Jill Floden Deyoung

Jill Floden DeYoung, age 100 passed away on March 23, 2025 at Freedom Village in Holland, MI. She was born March 18, 1925 in Rockford, IL to Tuve and Lea B Floden. (Her father Tuve was president of the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford which was the maker of the red heeled Rockford socks from which the sock monkeys were made and were always in supply for the family to play with). On August 21, 1948 she married John Thomas “Tom” DeYoung who preceded her in death on May 25, 2011 after 62 years of marriage. Tom was the Big Ten high jump champion at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and was chosen to be the homecoming king in Fall of 1948. Because they were married Jill was automatically the homecoming queen along with him!

Jill was an avid golfer her entire life, winning hundreds of trophies and awards starting in her teens right up until her late 80’s. She and Tom were active in their churches wherever they lived including the United Church of Christ (UCC) in Akron, Ohio, the Congregational Church of Birmingham UCC in Bloomfield Hills, MI and the United Church in Big Rapids, MI. They also enjoyed their very social life and golf while living in Canadian Lakes in Stanwood, MI for 20+ years. In addition to golf, she enjoyed work with the Girl Scouts of America as Outdoor Chairman leading children’s groups in outdoor education, backyard birding, habitat for Humanity, Bridge groups, travel, and cruises to various parts of the world. She valued her six lifelong friends “The 6 saps” from elementary school, along with her college and Delta Gamma friends from her alma mater the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she earned her degree in Early Education. She was a preschool and kindergarten teacher in her early years. Her favorite teacher who invited her to sit in the front seat of his jeep on an outdoor field trip was Aldo Leopold, well known for his wildlife ecology work. Most of all she valued spending time with her own family of three daughters.

She is survived by these three daughters, Patricia (Douglas) Bock of Summerfield, Fl; Nancy (David) Foster of Grand Haven, MI and Jane (Kenneth) Grossman of Carmichael, CA; Grandchildren Jennifer (Brian) Cryst, Amy (Bob) Stirling, John (Lindsay) Foster, Dan (Adriane) Foster, Brian (Melissa) Bock, Becky (Will) Hartwell, Tina (Jaime) Romo and Kassandra (David) Voigt and 13 great grandchildren, Caleb, Johnny, Cali, Ryder, Baer, Max, Evie, Gretchen, Riley, Mackenzie, Daisy, Mason and Charlie, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Tom, brothers Jack Floden and Robert Floden and many other dear relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank Freedom Village and Gentiva Hospice for their kind and professional care during her stay there since 2016.

A memorial service will be held at Freedom Village at a later date with her son-in-law, the Rev Douglas Bock officiating.

Memorial Contributions in memory of Jill may be given to: Gentiva Hospice, 625 Kenmoor Ave, SE, Suite 115, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Telephone number: (616)249-3043.