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George Kazemier (January 5, 1946 - October 15, 2025)
George Kazemier, age 79, of Grand Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
An immigrant from the Netherlands at the age of 5, George took great pride in being an American, often referring to the United States as “the greatest country in the world.” His patriotism led him to join the Army National Guard during the Vietnam War where he honorably served and was regionally deployed during the1967 Detroit Riot.
George was the posterchild of the American dream—arriving to west Michigan in poverty and working his way through various employment until he became a self-employed land developer who literally paved the way for places that people of West Michigan now call “home.”
George had a keen eye for undeveloped land and the grit to turn it into beneficial spaces for the families of Northwestern Grand Rapids. His legacy includes a self-storage facility, condominiums, and Meadow Verde, a housing development which bears the names of his seven grandchildren as the streets.
George was a man known to be serious and hard working in his business endeavors, yet fun-loving and generous with those who called him family or friend. He laughed easily and loved hunting, deep-sea fishing, boating, riding his Harley Davidson, watching sports, eating ice cream, and spending time with family and friends. He had a contagious spirit of adventure and determination that lives on in his family.
George was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan Kazemier, his parents, Mike and Hilda Kazemier, and his brothers, George, Jerry, and Pete Kazemier. He will be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Michelle Schoenborn (Kevin) and Sherri Lemmen (Karl); his grandchildren, Lauren Mahaffey (Daniel), Nicole Frisby (Trevor), Krystal Bratcher (Ethan), Hailey Lemmen, Jodi Lemmen, Zackery Lemmen, and Katie Lemmen; his great-grandsons, Luke Bratcher, Gabriel Mahaffey, and Peter Mahaffey; and his sisters Joann Postma and Wilma Keuning.
There will be a graveside reading at Rosedale Cemetery at noon Monday, October 20, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in George’s honor to the Salvation Army, an organization close to his heart.