Deb DeJong

Funeral services for Deb DeJong, 73, of rural Bussey, will be Wednesday, July 16,
2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Interment will be at
the Liberty Cemetery following the service. A luncheon will be held at the Bussey City
Hall after the interment.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 15th , from 5:00 until 7 :00 p.m. at the
Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville. Memorials may be made in care of Deb’s
family and will be designated at a later date.
Born July 30, 1951, in Knoxville, to Jack and Geraldine Forst Nichols, Debra Jean was
one four children raised in Red Rock, Iowa. She was raised alongside her siblings:
Denny, Barb, and Cheryl. Deb graduated from Knoxville High School in 1970.
On May 1, 1978, she married Clifford DeJong. They have been blessed with 47 years of
marriage, great memories, and a wonderful family. Deb and Clifford made their home
near Clifford’s parents, where they farmed together raising hogs (she was the chief
teeth and tails cutter), and crops. Deb also worked in home health care, as well as at
the Twin Cedars School as a cook and a teacher’s associate helping with special needs
students. Deb’s heart was always full and willing to give to others.
Known as Memaw Deb and Mamaw to her grandchildren and children, she was the
leader of the family, everyone gathered around Deb. With all gatherings there was food,
amazing food – chicken and noodles, pumpkin pie, giant cupcakes, chocolate lasagna,
apple crisp, and other favorites – you never left hungry. Deb loved to teach her grands
to cook and bake and made them each their own cookbook to take home. She was
proud of her family and always wanted the best for each of them.
Family vacations were special, going camping and mule riding, they traveled to
Colorado and Missouri many times to ride mules. Deb was in charge of the camp,
always filled with good food and a welcoming smile. Deb enjoyed helping others and
was always first to help family and friends. She enjoyed the farm, her flowers, and
sitting outside listening to the birds and sounds of nature. Deer season was always a
gathering as she would cook breakfast for my Dad's group that grew to about 20. She
loved listening to all of their hunting tales.
Memaw and Dalton had the love for the Lord of Rings movies. Brenden and Memaw
loved razzing each other as he is the clown of the family and could always make her
laugh. Tanner and Memaw loved chatting about his new honey bee hobby, he set some
hives up at their house. Memaw and Ryley loved baking together and chatting about
Ryley's show cows. Lexi and her just chatting about life. The entire family could always
stop by just to relax and sit outside to catch up, it was all of our comfort.
Deb passed away suddenly at her home on July 8th . She will be greatly missed by her
husband Clifford; children: DeAnna (Kevin Anderson) DeJong and Troy (Wendy
Carlson) DeJong; grandchildren: Dalton Connett, Brenden Connett, Tanner Anderson,
Ryley DeJong, and Alexis (Christian) Durham; great grandchildren: Willow and Arabelle;
siblings: Denny (Sandy) Nichols, Barb (Mike) O’Brien, and Cheryl (Terry) Franzen; along
with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents: Jack and Geraldine Nichols; and infant
daughter, Amber.