Naomi Devoss

Naomi DeVoss, 95, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2012, at Allen House.

Naomi Fredericka Scheef was born July 17, 1917, the second daughter of Henry Fredrick and Louise Katherine (Hennings) Scheef in Shelby County, Iowa. She grew up with her sister, Mabel, on a farm north of Walnut. Naomi attended the Walnut Schools, graduating with the class of 1935. She went on to graduate from the American Institute of Business in 1938. Naomi worked as a secretary in Des Moines and Kansas City until her marriage on March 17, 1941, to Vyrle DeVoss of Villisca. They farmed in the Morton Mills, Elliott, Walnut and Atlantic areas. They retired and moved into Atlantic in 1971. In 2003, the couple took up residence at Allen House in Atlantic. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage before Vyrle passed away in 2008.


Vyrle and Naomi were members of the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic where Naomi was an active member of the United Methodist Women and Esther Circle. She served as a Sunday School teacher and was a volunteer for many years at the church's Clothes Closet charity. She was also a member of the neighborhood Priscilla Club, a 40 year member of the BPO Does, and received her 1,800 hour pin for her volunteer work with the Hospital Auxiliary organization. As a member of the Cass County Farm Bureau Women, she was a delegate to Washington, D. C., and served in various offices for that organization.

Naomi loved to sew and embroider quilts for her grandchildren and bake cinnamon rolls and cookies for her family. She looked forward to neighborhood clubs, playing cards with friends, reunions, and serving holiday dinners. In her later years at Allen House, she was a willing participant in activities and programs and enjoyed her new friends there.


Naomi will always be remembered for generously giving of her time to help others, her positive outlook on life, and her love and enjoyment of family and friends.


She was preceded in death by her husband, Vyrle DeVoss; her parents, Henry and Louise Scheef; her sister, Mabel (Scheef) Sievers; her brothers-in-law, Everett "Bus" Sievers, George DeVoss, Dean DeVoss and Lynn Adams; and her sister - in-law, Hillis (Peterman) DeVoss.

Naomi is survived by her children, Dianne (George) Behrends of Wiota; Ed (Lana Guske) DeVoss of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Lindy Klinge of Ankeny, Iowa; and Dr. Gary (Nadine Bunge) DeVoss of Council Bluffs, Iowa; her grandchildren, Curt (Michelle) Behrends, Dale (Laurie) Behrends, Denise Behrends, Paula Behrends (Jon) Bequette, Jim (Liz) DeVoss, Susan DeVoss (Clay) McCullick, Elizabeth Klinge (Derek) Peterson, Christina Klinge, and Brian, Daniel, and Richard DeVoss; and her great-grandchildren, Megan and Nathan Behrends; Brinnae, Austin, and Brooklyn Behrends; Zachary and Kelsey Bequette; Ben, Luke and Nick DeVoss; and Max McCullick; her sisters-in-law, Vernita Adams and Virgilene Pickard; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.


Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 5, 2012, at 1:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, Iowa, with coffee following the service.

Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the family for designation at a later date.