Pier DeBoer passed away on Oct. 30, 2026. He was 95.

Born April 10,1931 in East Grand Rapids, MI, he was the first child of Rev. Peter and Gertrude (Vermeer) DeBoer. He spent his formative years in South Holland, IL; Holland, MI; Redlands, CA; and Edgerton, MN. In addition to his schooling, he learned a good work ethic and in his youth worked in tulip fields, a bakery and on chicken and dairy farms.

At age 18 he moved to Kalamazoo MI to attend the speech clinic at Western Michigan University. Under the noted specialist Dr. Charles Van Riper, he learned how to control a severe stuttering problem. Pier then began working at Henry Upjohn Tools & Machinery in Kalamazoo where as a quick study he developed skills repairing power tools for contractors and factories in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

When the company was sold he was hired at the Kalamazoo Country Club, and after 25 years he retired as building maintenance superintendent. In retirement he enjoyed many years as a shuttle driver for DeNooyer Chevrolet. We are thanking God for a long and full life.

Pier was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Marva (Huisken) DeBoer and wife of 40 years Nancy (Van Duine, Jager) DeBoer, sisters Gertrude DeBoer and Gladys Vander Pol, brothers Henry and Melvin DeBoer, four brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, and son-in-law Charles Barnes.

Among survivors are children Terry (Susan) DeBoer of Grand Rapids, MI; Rhonda (Terry) Collins of Portage, MI and Karen Barnes of Galesburg, MI; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Surviving siblings are Beth Vanden Berg and Joan Pool, both of Edgerton, and Alyce TenCate of Spring Lake, MI. Also surviving is sister-in-law Iva DeBoer and brother-in-law Mike Vander Pol, both of Edgerton.

Also, cousins, nieces and nephews and others too many to list.