James Dale “Jim” DeBoom was born January 5, 1940, at Hand Memorial Hospital in Hartley, Iowa to Cornelius and Pearl (Blok) DeBoom. He attended country school in Grant Township, graduating from Sutherland High School in 1958. After graduation, he was employed by the Krekow Construction Crew, followed by F.M. Slagle Lumber in Sutherland, IA.

    On December 10, 1966, Jim was united in marriage to Mary Cole.  Soon after, he adopted Kathi and Teri, with Rita joining the family in 1970.

    Jim was employed by the O’Brien County Secondary Roads Department and later, at Simonsen Iron Works located in Sioux Rapids, IA; he retired in 2006. While working off the farm, he was also raising livestock and grain farming until January 2025.

    He was a lifelong member of the Sutherland United Methodist Church. As a youth, he was given the perfect attendance award (as he liked to tell his daughters) in Sunday School. He had served on multiple church boards through the years and was proud to say he’d been a member of the church choir for 50 years.

    Jim was a very devoted, dedicated and active member of the O’Brien County Farm Bureau where he had held important positions – including Membership Chair – for many years. He was a Grant Township Trustee, served on the OCEMSA board, and was a member of Sioux Lakes EMS. He was also an O’Brien County supervisor and served on multiple committees within this role.

    Along with giving back to his community, Jim had incredibly special hobbies and interests.  Anyone in Jim’s life knew of his love of “collecting”; classic cars, antique tractors, toy tractors and model trains. A favorite pastime was attending car, toy, and train shows, however, Corvettes were his passion. He enjoyed being a member of the Okoboji Corvette Club and treasured all the friendships he had made through the years.

    Jim loved his family and had shared many “stories” they will always remember. He spent countless hours attending his daughters’ and grandchildren’s activities and cherished all his great-grands. 

    On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Jim passed away at Accura Care Center of Milford surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl and Cornelius DeBoom; sisters: Twyla Ritter, Shirley Sohn and Carol Ruby; brothers-in-law: Verl Ritter, Ronald Sohn, John Ruby, Marshall “Red” Garneau; and in-laws, Stephen and Kathleen (Cullen) Cole.

    Keeping his memory close in heart are his wife, Mary DeBoom of Sutherland, IA; his children: Kathi (Scott) Hill and their children: Lucas Hill, Katie Hill and Samantha (Brian) Tsang, Teri (Bill) Lehner and their children: Brittany (Brady) Wynia, Emily Lehner and her fiancé Parker Metzger and Rita (Robie) Schau and their children: Dallas (Mike) Ripke and Colton Schau; as well as the precious great-grands, Houston and Rutger Tsang, Covey, Baker, and Boden Wynia, and Baylor and Bergen Ripke; and his remaining sister, Audrey Garneau of Peru, Maine; other relatives and treasured friends.