Obituary of Wendy Diane DeBoer

Wendy Diane DeBoer was born June 16, 1959, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and died May 19, 2023, at her home in Maplewood, Minnesota. She was the fourth of five children born to Wendell and Marjorie (Rockwell) DeBoer. Her first name was chosen after she arrived on her father’s 35th birthday. She grew up in St. Paul but moved into a group home for the developmentally disabled when she was 15, due to behavioral and health issues (seizures).

Despite limited verbal abilities, Wendy’s favorite activity (besides eating good food) was listening to popular music, sometimes singing along (she had good pitch). Some of her favorite artists included Al Stewart, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow, Simon and Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Gordon Lightfoot, Helen Reddy, Raffi, Roger Whittaker, Glen Campbell, the Monkees, and the Carpenters. She also loved watching musicals, with the Wizard of Oz being one of her favorites, and would memorize and often recite the dialogue.

Wendy worked at a day activity center for over 30 years, retiring at age 59. She enjoyed getting together with family for holidays and special events and looked forward to weekend visits to her parents every two weeks until their passing, a highlight being watching the Lawrence Welk show every Saturday with Dad.

She is survived by her four siblings Steve (Gail) DeBoer of Rochester, MN; Dave (Elisa) DeBoer of Manchester, MO; Sharon (Leonard) Duban of Waterville, MN; and Bob (Katie) DeBoer of St. Paul. She also leaves ten nephews and nieces to mourn her departure Nate (Kassandra) DeBoer of Minneapolis, MN; Becca DeBoer of Pittsburgh, PA; Joe (Carrie) DeBoer of Shrewsbury, MO; Chris (Mary) Duban of Strum, WI; Kevin (Janna) Duban of Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, England; Jon (Sara) Duban of Faribault, MN; Jen Hacker of St. Paul; and Dillon, Malcolm, and Eileen DeBoer of St. Paul.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marjorie and Wendell DeBoer, both in 2014. A memorial gathering will be held July 5, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 1979 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55119. Donations in her memory should be directed to The Arc Minnesota.