Gordon Wayne DeBoer

Gordon Wayne DeBoer passed away on February 25, 2024, at the age of 82.

The son of Gossen and Jennie DeBoer, he was born on September 14, 1941 in Hull, Iowa. The eldest of five children, Gordon took seriously the expectations associated with being the oldest son. He worked tirelessly to build a life of great personal satisfaction and professional achievement.

Gordon’s early life in Iowa was formative. Raised on a farm, he inherited a strong work ethic from his parents. He was known to his friends as “Stretch” for his tall height (6’ 7”) and long reach as Center on the basketball team. In 1959, along with 12 of his fellow classmates, he graduated from Hull Public School. Later he completed a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa.

Upon completing college, he left Iowa to accept a teaching position at Placentia High School, making what would become a permanent move to Southern California. Seeking to expand his professional horizons, he pursued an MBA degree at UC Los Angeles, where he met his wife of 44 years and fellow UCLA Bruin, Diane DeBoer.

In 1966, Gordon joined the US Navy, lying about his height to be eligible for the Aviation Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, Florida. This “little” lie (literally intended to reduce his height) paved the way to a distinguished career as a Naval Pilot. During his 27 years of combined active and reserve duty, he earned the rank of Commander and was awarded 17 Air Medals including the Navy Commendation Medal, with combat “V”; the Navy Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and the Vietnam Service Medal.

As section leader, he flew 117 Vietnam combat missions and made over 150 carrier landings aboard the USS Ranger. He also served aboard the USS Lexington, the USS Enterprise and the USS Forestall, logging more than 225 carrier landings and over 3,000 hours of flight time as a Naval Pilot.

After completing active duty in 1973, Gordon worked for IBM in Los Angeles, rising quickly to the position of Marketing Manager. Not content “working for someone else,” he left to pursue his dream of starting his own company. Armed with his trademark confidence and ingenuity, he tried his hand at a number of different ventures. While he had a passion for financing and investment banking, he also dabbled in the sale of solar panels and briefly owned a tomato farm (appropriately named de Boer Farms).

At the peak of his professional career, he served as Chairman and CEO of Hollywood Film and Video, Neighborhood Acceptance Corporation, and SST Investor Services. He also established and became President, Chairman and CEO of CentrePoint Financial Services, Inc. in Newport Beach.

Gordon was not one to retire or rest on his laurels. He completed the J.D. in Law at Chapman University in his late 50s and passed the Utah bar in his 60s. He loved flying his plane to small airports around Southern California. He also enjoyed taking longer trips to Park City, Utah where he owned properties. He once shipped his Harley-Davidson to Gibraltar and rode it throughout Europe, visiting family in England and taking classes at Cambridge University.

He loved to be on the move and was undeterred by time, distance and geography. He needed only an idea to embark upon a new adventure, and what a great adventure he had.

Gordon is survived by his loving children Wendy DeBoer (spouse Ted Swigart) and Brian DeBoer (spouse Helen) and his grandchildren Ashok DeBoer, Paloma Swigart, Sabine Swigart, Bohdan DeBoer, Vivienne Grigorovich and Benjamin Grigorovich. He is also survived by his former wife, Diane DeBoer, and his siblings Beverly Pillow, Ed DeBoer, Judy Black, and Shirley Endresen, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

SERVICES

Interment Service

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:00am

Riverside National Cemetery

Celebration of Life

Friday, April 19, 2024, 12:00pm to 2:30pm

Flabob Airport Café

4130 Mennes Ave, Riverside, CA 92509

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

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