John W DeVos

November 23, 1929 - June 6, 2021

John Wilby DeVos, age 91, of Knoxville, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, June 6, 2021, at his home in Knoxville. John’s wishes were to be cremated and a private family service for John and his wife Pauline DeVos will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery of Knoxville at a later date. John was born on November 23, 1929, in Marion County, Iowa, the oldest son of Jake and Mayme DeVos. John grew up in various towns and attended Knoxville school. John was united in marriage to Pauline Marie Miller on August 13, 1948, in Knoxville, Iowa. John and Pauline were blessed with four children: John Terry, Diane, Larry, and Mike. John and Pauline shared 57 years of marriage before Pauline died on June 1, 2007. John loved working and farming and he was a wonderful bus driver. In the early 1950’s John worked nights at the Knoxville Fire Department and later he operated the garbage route at the V.A. Hospital and a commercial route in Knoxville and he had also owned and operated a cab company in Knoxville. John also was the transportation director in Melcher-Dallas and also at Twin Cedars. Those left to cherish John’s memory include his four children, John Terry DeVos and his wife Kay of Texas, Diane Darnell of Knoxville, Larry DeVos and his wife Steph of Wisconsin, and Mike DeVos and his wife Cindi of Knoxville; 11 grandchildren, Lindsay, John Terry, Jr., Katelyn, Jimmy, Terry, Danielle, Alison, Shannon, Stephen, Matt, and Kim; 26 great-grandchildren; and 4 great great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Pauline DeVos; his father Jake DeVos and his mother and stepfather Mayme (Cowman) Davidson and Ed Davidson; and three brothers Gene, Dwight, and Danny. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in John’s memory to the Knoxville Fire Department located at 308 S. 3rd Street, Knoxville, IA 50138 or may be left at the Winfield Funeral Home. The Winfield Funeral Home in Knoxville is assisting John’s family with services.