Jacobus Kiewiet

Jacobus DeKiewiet
July 15, 1934 - August 2, 2016

Buhl - Jacobus "Koos" DeKiewiet, 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 2, 2016, with his loving family surrounding him at his home in Buhl, Idaho.

Koos was born July 15, 1934 in Monster, Netherlands to Jacobus and Klazina DeKiewiet. He was one of 5 siblings: Coby (Jay) DeHaan, Sya (Ray) Parriott, Audrey (Bob) Feenstra, and Clarence "Sinus" (Ellie) DeKiewiet.

Koos was preceded in death by his first wife, Gay DeKiewiet and an infant daughter, his parents, his second wife, Cornelia "Corrie" Vierstra DeKiewiet, his brother, Clarence DeKiewiet, and his sister, Audrey Feenstra. He is survived by his sisters, Coby and Sya, and his children, Jerry (Linda) DeKiewiet, Carla (Rick) Gailey, Diana (Wayne) Creech, John (Denise) DeKiewiet, and 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren that made him extremely proud.

Through his marriage to Corrie, Koos' family grew to include six additional children, Helen (John) Werner, Henri (Doug) Goff, Michael (Angie) Vierstra (deceased), Gertie (David) Heck, Marlene (Robyn) Quigley, and Cheryl Vierstra, along with many more grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Koos immigrated to the United States in 1953 at the age of 19, and proudly served the United States in the Merchant Marines from 1957 to 1959. He was naturalized as a US citizen, along with his wife, Gay, in 1981.

His love of the dairy business brought him great joy until he retired in 2005. He was also actively involved in the Dairy Employees Union, serving at one point as president.

Koos' family will lovingly remember him as a man of God, a man that valued family, and treasured the simple pleasures that life held. His wealth of knowledge always inspired those around him, especially the challenges and inspirations he presented to his grandchildren. Although a seemingly quiet man, Koos never failed to amaze us with his perspectives and his subtle sense of humor.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 7pm on Friday, August 5 at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl, Idaho. There will be a private family graveside burial with a public memorial service to be held Saturday, August 6, at 11:00am at the Twin Falls Reformed Church on Poleline Road in Twin Falls, Idaho.