Richard A. "Whitey" Deyoung

Richard Allen DeYoung, age 66 of Randolph, passed away peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at UW Hospital in Madison surrounded by his loving family.

Richard’s family will receive relatives and friends at the Randolph community Funeral Home, 208 S High St. on Saturday, March 2nd from 5 – 8 p.m., and on Sunday at the church from 1:30 until the hour of services.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at First Reformed Church, 406 S High Street, Randolph with Pastor Tim Ehrhardt officiating. Burial will follow in the Randolph Cemetery.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff of Golden Living Center-Continental Manor of Randolph for the care and love that they gave to Richard and all the doctors and nurses who cared for him over the years.

Richard was born on April 13, 1946 at Beaver Dam Hospital, the son of Andrew J. and Margaret (Heeringa) DeYoung. On February 21, 1964, he married the love of his life, Marlene Schaalma. They lived in Randolph and attended the First Reformed Church of Randolph. Richard attended Rust Country School and Randolph High School. As a young man, Richard helped on the family farm; he also had various other jobs until age 19 when he became employed at John Deere in Horicon. He continued his work at John Deere for 30 years as a quality inspector, retiring in 1996. It was there that he developed some of his dearest and most lasting friendships.

Richard’s love of cars led him to the start of his own used car business. He opened D & D Auto Sales in 1983 out of his own garage. The business was later moved to the corner of Highway P and 73 which he ran until 2011. Those years were enjoyable as his father often stopped in to chat and give advice. It was also a place where friends and family would come to visit and have a cup of coffee. Richard enjoyed meeting many wonderful people and creating new friendships.

Richard was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandpa “papa”. He cherished many activities with his family and friends including camping, hunting, motorcycle trips and playing cards. Something both Richard and Marlene treasured was taking long road trips in their corvette. He also loved going to car auctions, 4-wheeling on the Soter Farm, but mostly spending quality time with his family.

Richard is survived by Marlene, his loving wife of 49 years, his daughter, Dawn (Lloyd) Soter, Cambria, and their children: Lauren (special friend, Zachary Tonn), Samantha (Mitchel) Thiele, and Stephanie (special friend, Jonathan Harvey) two sons: Gary DeYoung, Cumming, GA, and his children: Brent (special friend, Lauren Christopher), Brandon and Christian, and their mother, Pia DeYoung, and Brett (Kimberly) DeYoung, Randolph, and their children: Alexandra and Bradley DeYoung, Andrew and Nicholas Troute and his longtime companion and beloved chocolate lab “Coco”. He is further survived by two sisters: Joan (Philip) Karow, Randolph, and Marcia (Michael) Decker, Beaver Dam, two sisters-in-law: Marilyn (Charles) Sytsma, Randolph, and Rose Schaalma, Juneau, two uncles: Myran (Gladys) DeYoung, Markesan, and Gerald Heeringa, Waupun, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, father and mother-in-law, Albert and Jennie Schaalma, and a brother-in-law, James Schaalma.

Memorials in Richard’s name may be directed to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or First Reformed Church of Randolph.