Obituary - Jean Marie DeBoom
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Jean Marie DeBoom was born Decemeber 15, 1947, in Algona, Iowa, the daughter of Eugene and Dorothy (Mawdsley) Abbott. Jean received her education in the Algona Community School and attended Westmar College in LeMars, IA. On April 8, 1972, Jean was united in marriage to Gary DeBoom in Fairmont, MN.
Jean worked at Snap-On Tools, Algona Publishing for 12 years and owned and operated E-ZZZ Waterbeds in Algona for 14 years. Following this she went into partnership with daughter, Jennifer Divis, and co-owned The Daily Grind Coffee Shop. In 1991, she became an employee of Algona Community Schools as a school bus driver for 15 years. She owned and lived on the family farm southeast of Algona in Irvington Township.
An interest of Jean's at the age of five was horses. This interest turned into a lifelong passion of raising and showing American Saddlebred Horses. She was also a member of the Kossuth County 4-H, receiving many honors, most notably being one of seven chosen Nationally for a 4-H Horse scholarship to college. Jean was involved in several state and national horse organizations. She was state secretary and treasurer of the American Saddlebred Horse Futurity of Iowa for many years. In 2003, she was inducted into the Iowa State Fair Horseman's Hall of Fame.
Along with horses Jean became interested in raising llamas. She and Gary got into the llama business in 1991 and built a heard of world class llamas. They showed mainly in the Midwest and sold young llamas all over the United States. She and Gary organized the Kossuth County 4-H Llama Club in 1997 and were leaders for many years.
Another love of Jean's were her pet dogs of which she had many. She was a true naturalist when it came to animals. There were few fur bearing creatures or feathered friends that escaped the interest and love she had for them. She had a firm conviction that they all would be waiting for her on the other side and those surviving would join in the future.
The priority in her life was her family and grandchildren. They meant the world to her. She said she held the honor of official driving instructor for her kids, niece, nephew and grandchildren.
Jean died Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at her home near Algona. She was 68.
She is survived by her husband, Gary DeBoom of Algona; children, Ryan and Erin DeBoom of Albany, New York; Jennifer and Phil Divis of Algona; Stacy Abbott Marler and husband, Tim; grandchildren, Anna and Keegan DeBoom; Lillian, Lawton and Porter Divis; brother, James "Jim" Abbott.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
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