TRACY CLARA DE KAM was born September 9, 1927 to Joe and Anna (Osenga) Vanderplaats in Bejou, Minnesota, a small town in Mahoman County. She was baptized October 9, 1927 and spent the first three years of her life on the family farm. In 1930, her family relocated to a farm by Holland, Minnesota. Tracy became a member of the Holland Christian Reformed Church, where she would continue to serve faithfully for the rest of her life. She attended grade school at Pipestone County Public School District 34 in Aetena and District 72 in Fountain Prairie. After her eighth-grade graduation, she continued to work on her family farm. She also helped as a live-in nanny for several new mothers in her area. In 1947, she met the love of her life, Peter De Kam in Holland. The couple were united in marriage in 1951. The newlywed couple moved onto the farm of Withrop Warren, where they both worked. For the next 15 years, Tracy and Peter lived and worked on various farms throughout Southwest Minnesota until 1974 when they were able to purchase a farm of their own outside of Holland. Tracy enjoyed her life as a farmwife and worked hard to provide for her husband and her two boys. She also opened her house and raised her niece Diane Jansma for two years of Diane’s early life. Diane would return to the De Kam farm many times for two-week visits. In 1995, Tracy’s life was almost cut short when she was diagnosed with Haunta Virus. After a long battle, including a month long stay at McKennan hospital, she recovered. Tragedy struck in 1998 at the loss of Tracy’s husband, Peter. She remained living in her farm house until 2000 when her moved to a new house built on the farm by her sons Jerry and Jimmy. She remained in that home with her sons until her health declined in 2020 and she relocated to Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone, Minnesota. On Saturday, July 16, 2022, Tracy went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 7 days.
Tracy was a lifelong member of the Holland Christian Reformed Church in Holland. She served her church and congregation faithfully through several roles including Sunday School Teacher for 45 years, church Librarian for 60 years, and as one of the Harmony Workers. She also volunteered at Bibles for Missions Thrift Store in Worthington, Minnesota from 2000 through 2019, a passion she passed on to her sons who continue to volunteer there. She enjoyed reading books, sewing, gardening, and flowers.
Tracy is lovingly remembered by her sons Jerry and Jimmy De Kam of Ruthton, Minnesota; and a niece Diane Jansma of Anacortes, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter De Kam; parents; siblings Nettie Fieldhouse, Andrew Vanderplaats, Perry Vanderplaats, Clearence Burgess, Betty DeVries, and Joanne Fischer.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Christian Reformed Church - Holland
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Starts at 10:30 am (Central time)
Christian Reformed Church - Holland
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