Casey J. DeJong

Casey J. DeJong, longtime Alexandria ISD 206 math teacher and tennis coach (1960-1991), passed away at Grand Arbor on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at age 94, under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice.

Born on the family farm on February 22, 1931, in the Dutch community of Edgerton, Minnesota, Casey was the fifth of six children born to Cornelis and Wilhelmina (Veldhuizen) DeJong. He was baptized on April 4, 1931, at First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. Casey grew up having the best of both worlds. He learned the farm boy work ethic but lived close enough to town to easily walk there for ball games and general shenanigans.

Casey graduated from Edgerton High School in 1949. He was always grateful to his father who encouraged him to take part in school athletic programs even though farm chores also needed to be done. Casey exceled at football, basketball and baseball and could recite exact scores, plays and even opponents’ names decades later.

Casey continued his education at Mankato State Teachers’ College (now Minnesota State University-Mankato) where he graduated in 1953 with a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics. A direct commission into the U.S. Air Force took him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied meteorology for a year. He then served as a weather forecaster at bases in Great Falls, Montana; Seoul, South Korea; and Roswell, New Mexico.

Upon his return from South Korea, Casey married Janice Schroeder of Morristown, Minnesota, on November 3, 1956. Two weeks before the wedding, he was privately confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morristown after being instructed into the Lutheran faith through correspondence with their pastor while Casey was in Korea.

Casey and Jan became the parents of four children. Daughter Leisa was born in Waseca in 1957 shortly after her dad became a civilian again. Son Craig was born in Crosby in 1959 where Casey taught math and coached for two years. Two months after the family moved to Alexandria in July of 1960, son Mitchell was born. Daughter Tina was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1967. She came home to the DeJongs through adoption in 1975 at the age of eight.

Thirty-one years of teaching math at Jefferson High School brought Casey much satisfaction and enjoyment. In the years following retirement, nothing pleased him more than to visit with former students who told him they felt very prepared for their college-level math courses thanks to the solid foundation laid by the math department at Jefferson. Many credited “Mr. DeJong” for giving them the confidence to pursue STEM related careers, and for that, he was very proud.

Casey coached a variety of sports during his teaching career, but he was most passionate about the game of tennis. He continued to coach tennis 15 years after he retired from teaching, for a total of 25 years. He volunteered to help with summer youth tennis lessons which also gave him joy. However, Casey’s ultimate enjoyment came from playing the game itself which he did until age 91.

One of Casey’s other life-pleasures was spending time with family and friends hunting and fishing in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Canada. Private hunting land near Starbuck gave him the opportunity to enjoy his love for the outdoors on a regular basis. Casey and grandson, Brandon, together with other family members, camped “up north” on Bad Medicine Lake for more than 25 continuous summers. For many years he recorded his fishing and hunting experiences through stories he called “Casey’s Capers.” His love for nature also included collecting maple sap, planting wild rice and biking the Central Lakes Trail.

Casey became a skilled carpenter and craftsman, a trade he learned from his father. He built houses with a local construction company in Alexandria for 15 summers, from 1960-1975. He also built the home on George Street where he and Jan have lived since 1967. Casey was incredibly generous with his time and talents. He never said no when family members asked for help building or repairing anything. He helped build a cabin and made many gun cases, Adirondack chairs, desks, and toys. He repaired roofs, flooring and everything in between. Many woodworking projects became gifts for family and friends as well.

Zion Lutheran Church and its ministries were an integral part of Casey’s life during the 64 years he lived in Alexandria. He was actively involved in many ways but “found his niche” on the Board of Church Properties on which he served 18 years. He was proud to be a part of Zion’s Men’s Ministry with its many mission projects. Friends and loved ones will remember Casey as a man of quiet but sincere faith, very family oriented, patient, generous and kind.

Casey is survived by his wife, Jan, of 68 years; daughters Leisa (Nevin) Smith of Alexandria and Tina DeJong of Dassel; sons Craig (Carol) DeJong of Glenwood and Mitch (Valerie) DeJong of St. Paul; grandchildren Brandon (Amy) Smith of West Fargo, North Dakota, Brenna (Tim) Fogus of Little Elm, Texas, Jordan (Rachel) Smith of Maple Grove, Brandee DeJong of Murray, Utah, David (Kala) DeJong of Sacramento, California, Meggie (Ben) Bjertness of Moorhead, Leo Tessman of Dassel, Emma Jo Tessman of Dassel, and Jade and Allie Lent of Glenwood; great-grandchildren Brody, Beckett and Bridger Smith, Kacey Fogus, Summer and Ivy Smith, Olivia and Coleton Mutchler, and Rowan Bjertness: brother Harris (Diane) DeJong of Old Mill Creek, Illinois, sister Donna Elson of Lake Villa, Illinois; Jan’s siblings John (Patsy) Schroeder of Apple Valley and Jolene Schmidtke of Savage, sister-in-law Lyn Schroeder of Bagley, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Casey was preceded in death by his parents, Jan’s parents Arnold and Emma Schroeder, brother Rolland (Rita) DeJong, sisters Geraldine (Stan) Roetman and Jeanette (Ted) Hanenburg, brothers-in-law David Elson and Jim Schroeder, and nephews Scott Roetman, Terry Hanenburg and Bryon Schroeder.

A funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Matthew Lorenz officiating. Visitation will be at Anderson Funeral Home on Thursday evening, March 20, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will take place following the service at Kinkead Cemetery.