Carl VanKoevering

VanKoevering, Carl Jr. 6/19/1931 – 3/28/2023

Carl VanKoevering Jr., age 91, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 28, 2023. He passed peacefully in the comfort of his home and in the company of his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Kathryn (Crispin); parents Carl and Elizabeth VanKoevering; brothers and their wives Gerard (Lucille), Erwin (Relva), Stanley (Julia), Terry (Margaret), Robert, Eva; brothers-in-law Bill Tetro, Floyd Fleetham, Walter Hubbell, Herb Hesselink; sister-in-law Colleen Abrahams; son-in-law Russ Greavu; and great-great granddaughter Melody Schuiling. Carl is survived by his children Linda Scott-Greavu, Mary VanKoevering, Steve (Peg) VanKoevering; siblings Duane VanKoevering, Sherryl Fleetham, Karen (Herb) Oakes; siblings-in-law Norma Tetro, Lawrence (Jeannie) Crispin, Elouise Hubbell, Ruth Hesselink; nine grandchildren, over 30 great-grandchildren and a handful of great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; “adopted daughter”, Mimi Clements; his church family; and many other friends. Carl served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He held several jobs during his career including Sunbeam Appliance and Litscher Electric, and retired from Gordon Food Service where he served as Fleet Manager for nearly twenty years. He had a knack for being able to fix anything, from a toaster, to a light fixture, to a car, to a refrigerated tractor-trailer unit. He is best remembered for his sense of humor and his animated story-telling, complete with sound effects. He enjoyed camping, fishing, tinkering with watches and spending quality time with his family. He was a long-time member of Grand Valley Baptist Church, 3186 River Hill Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49534, where a memorial service to celebrate his life, officiated by Pastor Dan Heistand, will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family on Friday, April 7, 2023 from 4-7 PM at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt and Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. A private burial ceremony will take place at Rosedale Memorial Park. The family would like to thank his Spectrum Health Hospice team, and Elizabeth in particular, for their tender care and support. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Spectrum Health Hospice Care, 750 Fuller Avenue NE – MC 164, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. To share a favorite memory of Carl and to sign his guest book, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.