Roger Dean DeYoung

January 30, 1934 - November 26, 2020

Knoxville. Roger Dean DeYoung, 86, of Knoxville died Thursday, November 26, 2020, at the Accura Health Care Center of Knoxville. He was born January 30, 1934, in Sigourney, Iowa, the son of Harold and Mary Beal DeYoung. In his youth he was a standout baseball player for his high school team in Barnes City. He graduated from Barnes City High School with the class of 1952. On January 19, 1955, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Jean Wright at Delta, Iowa. Following their marriage, Roger joined the United States Air Force. Roger’s active duty service ended in 1958, however he continued to serve in the reserves and was honorably discharged in 1963. Following his discharge from active duty, he moved to Oskaloosa. He worked various place in including Oskaloosa Produce, Shell Oil, Pepsi, and Regal 8 Motels. He later worked for Stanley Services building grain bins around the state. Roger was a talented handyman and had a wonderful knack for finding problems and fixing them. He put his handyman and maintenance skills to good use when he worked in maintenance for the Earlham, Van Meter, and Johnston School Districts. He retired from working in the schools and moved to Knoxville with Phyllis. It did not take long for the staff and residents at the apartment complex they lived in to learn of Roger’s maintenance abilities. His retirement was short lived as he was often called upon to do maintenance around the complex. In retirement he enjoyed he enjoyed being the “fix-it” guy in the neighborhood and driving cars for Motor Inn of Knoxville. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. His family includes his wife of over 65 years, Phyllis DeYoung of Knoxville; two daughters and their husbands, Shirley (Vernie “Bud”) Nance of Knoxville and Carol (Shawn) Taylor of Des Moines; three grandchildren, Shawn (Alicia) Nance, Aaron (Kristin) Nance, and Jill Gomez; nine great grandchildren, Alexis, Caleb, Brooke, Kyziah, Cesilya, Ira, Grace, Natalia, and Sasha; a sister, Marilyn Spain of Kansas; two brothers and their wives, Gary and Vickie Williams of Tiffin, Iowa and Howard and Virginia DeYoung of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Charles “Chuck” DeYoung. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Alvern Boetsma officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Graveside Military Honors will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. According to the rules put in place by the Iowa Department of Public Health, proper social distancing and reasonable personal protective equipment is advised for attending a religious public event. Roger’s family requests everyone attending visitation and funeral services to please wear a mask. The funeral will be live streamed at the funeral home’s YouTube Channel for those wishing to support the family from a distance. Open visitation will be held Monday from 12 noon until 7 p.m. Monday evening. Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Honor Guard.