George DeVries

George DeVries, age 87, of Charlotte, Michigan, met his heavenly Father on Friday, April 25, 2025. Family was by his side during his last hours while in comfort care at the hospital due to complications related to congestive heart failure.

George DeVries was born at home on August 31, 1937, to Klaas and Fintje (Hoogenveen) DeVries in Ureterp (Friesland) Netherlands.

He was the youngest of 10 children. George’s family was closely involved in the Dutch resistance during World War II.

As a teen, George dreamed to immigrate to America like a third of his older siblings had done already. At age 19, in February 1957, he embarked on a 10-day journey across the Atlantic on the Zuiderkruis emigrant ship. He traveled alone and legend has it he had only $30 in his pocket. He ported in Hoboken, New Jersey.

George first worked as a milk hand on dairy farms in New Jersey and also for three years in Southern California.

Then he served in the United States Army (1961-1964). After six weeks of basic training, he returned to Europe and served his time with the Army in Stuttgart, Germany. In time, George learned conversational English and became a citizen of the USA in 1965, of which he was very proud.

He married Gert (Valkema) DeVries, the love of his life, on August 18, 1965, in Sussex, New Jersey.

They both were from the providence of Friesland and could speak Frisian, Dutch, and English to each other.

They were married for fifty-nine years.

George was a second-generation butcher and owned DeVries Meats in Newton, New Jersey. George and Gert then moved with their four children to Charlotte, Michigan, in 1982. George operated Card's Food Locker in Eaton Rapids from 1982 -1989.

George was very handy and he transformed their pole barn into a seasonal deer processing business. From 1991 – 2011 George and Gert operated George’s Game Processing. George was known for making savory venison jerky and a variety of smoked sausages.

During those years on the off seasons, George and Gert spent many winters in Navarre Beach, Florida, where he enjoyed fishing. They also did mission work including a few summers at Camp Fahola in Grass Lake, MI, and a trip to Hawaii and Florida with the Assemblies of God RV Volunteers. They also went on two short-term mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Belize. George also went with a church group on a bold mission trip to Moscow, Russia, in 1992.

George was known for his dry sense of humor, storytelling, work ethic, loyalty to family, and unshakable faith in Jesus. He had a heart for the prison ministry and Gideon ministry.

George is survived by his wife Gert DeVries; his 4 children: Heidi (Buck) Hagy of Bath, MI, Kevin DeVries of Grand Rapids, MI, Walter (Kerrie) DeVries of Millville, PA, Felicia (Aaron) Almanza of Oak Forest, IL; his 11 grandchildren, Nate (Ciana) Hagy, Miah (Ben) Cook, Zach Hagy, Luke Hagy, Jack DeVries, Emma DeVries, Levi (Sarah) DeVries, Sam DeVries, Anne DeVries, and Amelia and Abigail Almanza; his 2 great grandsons, Grayson and Beckham Cook; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and multiple nephews and nieces in the Netherlands, Canada, and the USA. His 9 siblings and parents preceded him in death.

George’s family would like to acknowledge the compassionate comfort care George received during his last days at U of M Sparrow Eaton in Charlotte. We are forever grateful to the care team.

A celebration of life will be held at Lakeside Chapel 5800 Park Lake Road, Bath, Michigan 48808, on Saturday, May 24th at 11:00am.

Lunch will follow at the Hagy Homestead in Bath.

A cremation has taken place per George’s wishes.

If you have a story or memory of George you would like to have read at the celebration, please send to hagyherd@gmail.com.

Those desiring may make contributions in George’s memory to:

Lakeside Chapel https://lakesidechapelofbath.org/home,

Grace Explorations (Kevin DeVries) https://www.graceexplorations.com

Lansing Christian Schools https://www.lansingchristianschool.org