Jean Kok

A beautiful woman from the inside out, Jean Kok truly lived a life worth celebrating. She was a constant source of strength, no matter the circumstances, and she faced each and every challenge with a fierce spirit of determination. There was nothing that made Jean happier than spending time with her beloved friends and family. Her servant’s heart allowed her to impact countless lives for the better, and she loved those around her so well. Deeply missed, Jean and her memory will be forever cherished.

The 1920s were certainly some of the most exciting years to be an American. The “Roaring 20s,” as the decade is known, saw a flourishing rise in great economic and social change. Motion pictures became widely available in color and sound, and ballroom dancing and jazz music became wildly popular as well. It was during this influential time that John and Gertrude (Niemeyer) Griffioen of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were thrilled to announce the arrival of their newborn daughter. Born on June 10, 1927, Jean was one of six children in the Griffioen family and was raised alongside her two brothers, Don and Bill.

Jean grew up as a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. Her father, John, worked as a butcher to support the family while attending Calvin College and Calvin Seminary. Jean’s early years were spent in Grand Rapids, but when she was five years old, the Griffioens moved out to Sully, Iowa, where her father was a pastor for the next 10 years of her childhood. Jean attended local schools in Iowa, including Sully Christian School, Pella Christian Middle School, and Sully Public Schools. She had fond memories of playing running games and kicking the can as a girl. When Jean was a teenager, the family moved back to Grand Rapids where she began attending Grand Rapids Christian High School for her senior year. Following her graduation from high school, she started working at the Christian Reformed Publishing House.

Exciting changes were in store for Jean as she met the young man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Herm Kok, and the two met after Jean’s family returned to Grand Rapids. She could not resist those beautiful blue eyes. They began dating on July 4, 1943. Herm left for a time to serve, but when he came home, the couple was reunited and began dating again. The rest was history. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Jean and Herm were married on January 29, 1948. Two years later, Herm took a job teaching at Englewood Christian School in Chicago. Jean and Herm settled down in their longtime home on West 73rd Street, and over the years, they fell in love with their community and life there.

Jean’s family was her biggest source of pride and joy. She and Herm were overjoyed to welcome their four sons, John, Jim, Wayne, and Philip, into their hearts and home. Jean thrived in her role as a mother, and she was very involved in her sons’ lives. She made a tradition of always having meals as a family on Sundays. Only second to her family was Jean's church, the many members of her church were as close as family. The Kok family were members of First Christian Reformed Church of Englewood Chicago for 14 years, which was right next door to their home. They enjoyed family vacations to Rainbow Beach, Benton Harbor, Indian Dunes State Park, and many cottage and camping trips, as well as frequent trips to Grand Rapids. In August of 1962, the family moved to make their new home in Evergreen Park.

Later in life, Jean was so happy to become a grandmother and even a great-grandmother. She adored her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and doted on them whenever she got the chance. Jean and Herm also loved traveling the world together. They went to Amsterdam to visit their son, John, and they often traveled back to Grand Rapids, maintaining a strong connection to their roots. When Herm was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Jean stepped in to become his main caregiver. The two were soulmates and truly complemented each other in every way.

All who knew Jean will surely agree that she had a deep passion for helping others. While raising her children, she began taking college classes from home on public television. Jean soon took a job working at Elim Christian Services, and her superintendent agreed to pay for her further education if she continued working at Elim. She attended Governor’s State University and Saint Xavier University, and she eventually went on to graduate with her master’s degree in speech pathology. Jean poured 23 years of dedicated work into her career at Elim. She worked at Southwest Christian School as well, where Herm was the superintendent. Jean loved her work as a speech therapist and thought it was the best job ever. Even after she retired in 1994, she continued to volunteer at Roseland Christian School for another 18 years.

With a journey that spanned times of war and peace, plenty and want, grief and joy, Jean Kok understood the secret to a life well lived. She treated those around her with kindness and generosity, and she was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Jean always made sure to hold her loved ones close. A woman of faith, she exemplified what it meant to follow faithfully after the Lord she loved so much. Though she is already greatly missed, Jean leaves behind a priceless legacy that her family members and friends will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Jean H Kok, age 98, a longtime resident of Oak Lawn, IL, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 12, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Herm; by her sons: John, Wayne and Phillip; by her grandson Pieter Kok. Also preceding her are her brothers and their wives Don (Martheen) and Bill (Myrna), her brother-in-law Peter Kamstra. She is survived by her son, James (Deborah) Kok; her daughters-in-law Sanneke, Mary, Lorraine, her brothers-in-law and their wives Roger (Marguerete) Griffioen, Bob (Toni) Griffioen, and sister-in-law Eleanor Kamstra. Jean leaves behind a large number of grandchildren Vanessa (Eric) Bartels, Jennifer (Robert) VanLeeuwen, Andre (Jessica) Kok, Sarah Hanley, Emily Kok, Abigail (Zack Matthews) Kok, Joshua (Jen Vogel) Kok, Jonathan (Becky Ringlewski), Amanda (Aaron) Rossell, Matthew Kok, Megan (Noah) Kruis, Joseph Kok, Bethany (Cam) Seiler, Mitchell (Lisa) Smith-Kok, Tara (Dave) Duimstra, Natalie (Michael) Gill, Trevor (Emerald) Kok, Angela (Turner) Stonehouse, Vincent (Hannah) Kok, Micah (Sam) Reynolds, Mikayla (Danny) Brink; as well as many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. There will be a service to remember Jean’s life on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 3 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends are invited to visit with her family beginning at 2 PM. For those who wish, memorial donations are suggested to Grace Christian Reformed Church, Oak Lawn Chicago Ill. To read more about Jean, to share a favorite memory or photo, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com