- Date Of Birth: April 26, 1929
- Date Of Death: December 26, 2012
- State: Illinois
Melvin Dale DeGroot, 83, of Ashland, IL went to meet the Lord on December 26, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
Dale was born April 26, 1929 in rural Ashland; the son of Silas Haven and Grace Erma Smith DeGroot. He married Joan Lewis on May 25, 1950 in Ashland and she survives.
He is also survived by three sons, Melvin Dennis DeGroot (wife, Kay) and Jerry Darren DeGroot (wife, Victoria), all of Ashland, and Lewis David DeGroot of Punta Gorda, FL; seven grandchildren, Derek DeGroot (wife, Mindy) of Ashland, Dacia Grimm (husband, Matt) of Auburn, Darci McLaughlin (husband, Doug) of New Windsor, Stormi Moriarity (husband, Tom) of Cambridge, Holli DeGroot of Nokomis, FL, and Sara and Drew DeGroot, both of Ashland; seven great grandchildren; a brother, Silas Weldon DeGroot (wife, Mary) of Port Charlotte, FL; an uncle, Russell M. Smith of Quincy; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Beverly Joy DeGroot and Anna Luetta Bailey.
Dale was a 1950 graduate of Ashland High School. He farmed in Cass County for over 40 years before his retirement in 1989. He served as Ashland Township Clerk for 35 years and was currently serving as a township trustee. He was a member and Deacon at Richland Creek Baptist Church and formerly served as Sunday School superintendent for the First Baptist Church in Ashland. He was also a member and past master of Virginia Masonic Lodge #544.
