David James Deboer

David James DeBoer passed away peacefully on November 17, 2025. He was 87 years old. He was the son of James Frederich DeBoer and Marian Elaine Teal and was born in Kalamazoo, MI. He grew up in Battle Creek, MI and was a graduate of Battle Creek Central High School in 1956. He was a leader there and was President of his senior class. He attended Albian College and later the University of Michigan where is received his BA in 1960 and his MBA in 1963.

He began his career in transportation at the New York Central Railroad. He later spent time at Trans World Airlines before joining the Federal Railroad Administration to work on the “Wreck of the Penn-Central “. He then set up the Rail Service Planning Office for the Interstate Commerce Commission. He then joined the new Marketing Department of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1978 and later ran the SP Intermodal Division. Intermodal dominated the rest of his career. He became the President of Greenbriar Intermodal who make the double stack cars that now dominate the freight industry.

He represented the United States in two international rail congresses in Bologna, Italy and Moscow, Russia, where he gave papers on the US Intermodal progress.

He was also a writer. He wrote a monthly column for Modern Railroads under the name of Paul V. Carr. He also wrote Piggyback Containers, A History of Rail Intermodal on America’s Steel Highway which became a text for the industry.

Upon retirement, he became a volunteer at Second Harvest and Loaves and Fishes in Watsonville and served on their Board of Directors. He was very active in his homeowner’s association at Pajaro Dunes Shorebirds.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sandra Ogden DeBoer, a daughter, Kathleen Hurd of Vancouver, WA, a son James Phillip DeBoer of Kutztown, PA, a son Christopher David DeBoer of Walnut Creek, CA; seven grandchildren, and his sister, Karen DeBoer Potts of Lake Jackson, TX.

A celebration of life will be held on April 11th 2026 in Watsonville, California.