Tom de Jong

Teunis (Tom) de Jong, Jr. was born on June 29, 1941, to Teunis (Tom) and Jans (Janet) de Jong in Koudekerk aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. In 1950 he immigrated with his family to America, eventually settling on a dairy farm near Escondido, California, where he learned to love the dairy life, working closely with his dad for many years. In 1960 he enlisted in the United States Army, serving for two years before being honorably discharged.

In 1964 he married Alice Van Kampen, and they moved to Clovis, California, to open a dairy of their own. They lived in Clovis for 13 years before moving onto a dairy in Porterville, California, which he ran for nearly 40 years, even after they moved to Visalia, California, in 2000. He retired from the dairy business in 2016.

Tom was actively involved as a school board member at Pleasant View School, as part of a church plant in Porterville, as an elder at Fresno Christian Reformed Church and Visalia Christian Reformed Church, and as a board member for Used Treasures Quality Thrift in Tulare, California.

He was a man of deep Christian faith who loved his family, loved to travel and loved to bless others with his generous spirit. Nothing gave him more joy than being surrounded by family and regaling his grandchildren with stories and tales. He will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Janet de Jong, his brother Gerrit de Jong, and his grandson, Connor de Jong. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alice, his son Chris (Sharyl) de Jong and grandchildren Grace, Ayla and Tommie de Jong; his son Kevin (Kristen) de Jong and grandchildren Ineke, Christian, Seth and Jude de Jong; his daughter Carla (Blake) Hiemstra and grandchildren Jacie, Kenna, Avery and Carter Hiemstra. In addition, he is survived by his sisters Nellie Schaap, Ellie De Jong and Jeanette (Kim) Pickrell, along with his sister-in-law Geri de Jong and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Visalia Christian Reformed Church (1030 S. Linwood Street) on Friday, May 31, at 10:30 AM, with a luncheon at the church to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Central Valley Christian School.