Marvel M. DeJong, 100, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at the Grinnell Health Care Center. Marvel was born on March 19, 1912 to Martin and Henrietta DeJong in New Sharon, Iowa. He was one of ten brothers and sisters and raised on the family farm. Marvel met and courted Jaunita Wilma Halterman and they were married on October 1, 1938 at the First Baptist Church in Kirksville, Missouri. Economic times were hard and work was scarce, so Marvel and his new wife left to seek employment as a carpenter in the Southwest, living in Arizona for some time and following the work through New Mexico, California and the Pacific Northwest. The outbreak of World War II summoned Marvel to serve his country in the United States Navy, where he spent time in the Pacific Islands as a See Bee building airstrips, hangers and facilities for the military effort. At war's end he reunited with Jaunita in California and they returned to New Sharon to build a life and start a family. The couple later moved to Grinnell, where he was a carpenter and operated DeJong Construction Company. He returned to New Sharon in 2002 and has resided at the Grinnell Health Care Center since 2009. Marvel was a true conservationist, avid fisherman and a great father to his only son, Ronald. Marvel is survived by his son, Ronald P. DeJong of Ashland, Oregon; three grandchildren, Christopher DeJong of Oskaloosa, IA, Jennifer Castle of Gilman, IA and Julie Fuqua of Walnut Creek, CA; and four great grandchildren, Keegan and Sophia DeJong and Megan and Caroline Fuqua. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; five brothers; and four sisters.