Jill Marie De Ronde, age 42, of Oskaloosa and Ankeny, went to her heavenly home on September 18, 2026, after passing away at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jill was born on June 20, 1984, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Kevin and Linda (Veenstra) De Ronde. Jill attended Oskaloosa Christian School and Pella Christian High School and graduated in 2002. After high school, Jill participated in many COC (Christian Opportunity Center) activities, Special Olympics events, and church activities. She worked for many years at COC in Oskaloosa, before moving on to group homes in various places. She had just celebrated 2 years in her current home in Ankeny with Gloria (Gigi) and Dexter, her host family.
“Jilly bean,” “Will Cat,” and “Willy” never met a stranger. She was well known for talking with anyone and everyone, especially people holding babies. If Jill met someone new, she would often ask them how old they were or when their birthday was, a data point she would never forget. She did not need social media or technology to be reminded of birthdays. She could remember phone numbers for places from her childhood that she hadn’t called in years.
Jill loved to keep busy with social activities. She enjoyed going to sporting events and church outings, and her infectious laugh could be heard across the room. Jill was so proud of her nephews and niece, even if they were “a little loud and crazy” at times. She would stay up late during holidays and family get-togethers, never wanting to miss out on any of the action. Jill loved to spend a day each summer at Adventureland, riding the rides and going to the water park. She would walk the whole day and never complain or ask to go home early, and even bravely tried some new rides each time.
Jill believed in God and loved Jesus as her Savior her whole life. She made public profession of faith as a teenager and loved worshipping at church. She knew all the words to hymns and praise songs, belting them out in just the right key and just the right decibel. Jill is a wonderful example to all of us to believe in Jesus with childlike faith, knowing he loves us as his special children.
Jill is lovingly remembered by her mother Linda of Oskaloosa; grandma, Marylin Veenstra of Oskaloosa; siblings, John (Lisa) De Ronde of Pella, and Kristin (Jordan) Dyk of Hudsonville, Michigan; niece and nephews, Gavin, Derek, and Sienna, along with many dear aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Jill is preceded in death by her dad, Kevin, and grandparents Wilbur Veenstra and Kryn and Dorothy De Ronde.
Funeral Services for Jill will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church with Reverend Jon Spronk officiating. A Family Prayer Service will be held in the fellowship hall at 10:15 a.m. before the service. Burial will be in Henness Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 2 p.m., on Monday at the First Christian Reformed Church fellowship hall; the family will greet visitors from 4-6 p.m. Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Christian School or Pella Christian School.
Jill’s service can be viewed from the church’s website at: https://boxcast.tv/channel/o3yvvbbrg2783ile3a6i or the church’s Facebook page First CRC Osky at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579466160220
