Glenn William DeVries

Through his own example, Glenn DeVries taught the importance of compassion, patience, and generosity. He was a devoted father and a loving husband. Glenn was described as "the most caring, most gentle man you could ever meet."

With a victorious end to the Great War, the 1920's emerged as a decade of triumph. The economy soared, and national industry boomed like never before. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, William DeVries and his wife Dorothy Andree discovered another reason to celebrate: they were expecting a child. In the year 1920 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their son Glenn William DeVries.

The oldest of five children, Glenn grew up in Grand Rapids with the company of his four sisters. The DeVries family lived on Fulton Street, near the campus of Aquinas College. In the days of Glenn's youth, Fulton was a two-lane dirt road closely hugged by rows of large looming trees. Glenn often explored the woods that surrounded his house. He was a true outdoorsman. He liked hunting with his dog and he enjoyed fishing in the small inland lakes in the area.

Glenn attended East Grand Rapids High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1939. He then enrolled at Hainey's Business College. After completing his freshman year, he went to work for Purity Cylinder Gases. Glenn started as an Office Manager and worked his way up to the position of Vice President. He retired in 1984.

In Grand Rapids, in the 1940's, the "Coliseum" was the place to be. It was a roller-skating rink located on South Division. It was here that Glenn met a young Doris Boss. That evening marked the beginning of a courtship that began the marriage on May 24, 1946. The newlyweds moved into an apartment on Alpine Avenue where they lived for the next four and a half years. They were blessed with two sons, David and Dale. To accommodate their growing family, they built a house on Myrtle NW.

Glenn was a devoted father. He worked hard to provide for his sons, and he found the reward for his effort in the time that they spent together. Every summer, toward the end of August, Glenn rented a cottage at Birch Lake for two weeks. These vacations provided the setting for many of Glenn's fondest memories.

Glenn was a devout Christian who eagerly shared his faith with his family. He was an active member of Broadway Christian Reformed Church, which later became Westview Christian Reformed Church. He served in a variety of capacities, including deacon, Sunday School teacher, and treasurer.

With retirement Glenn discovered more time to devote to his hobbies. You could usually find him in the yard, puttering around to make sure that everything looked perfect. His driveway was attractively lined with rows of petunias. He took pride in his garden, where he raised a variety of vegetables and flowers. He and Doris shared a love for travel. Over the years they went on many memorable vacations. They visited both Europe and Hawaii three times, and they also traveled to many of the continental states. Wherever their travels took them, Glenn made sure to bring his camera. He turned his favorite photographs into slides, then gathered his family to watch the slideshow.

For fifteen consecutive years, Glenn and Doris rented a park model trailer and wintered in Florida's west coast. After more than fifty years at Myrtle NW, they moved into a condo in Walker. Recently, they relocated to Covenant Village of the Great Lakes.

Glenn dedicated his life to his family, and he was the happiest in their warm company. He was an excellent caretaker and provider. He loved his Church and each day he tried to follow the Lord's noble example. Among the many people whose hearts he touched, Glenn will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Glenn died on February 7, 2007. He was preceded in death by three sisters. Glenn is survived by his wife of 60 years, Doris (Boss) DeVries; sons David DeVries and wife Kathy, Dale DeVries and wife Penny; grandchildren Carrie DeVries, Janel (Scott) Eikenberry; one great-grandchild Sarah Eikenberry; sister Gladys Jousma; brother-in-law Ray (Dottie) Seven; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Annette and Neal Huizingh; many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to meet with Glenn's family on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home-Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard NW. The funeral service will be held on Monday at 1 PM at the funeral chapel with Rev. Roger Groenboom officiating. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery. Glenn's family would like to thank the staff of Covenant Village Skilled Nursing and Faith Hospice for their care given to Glenn. Contributions in Glenn's memory may be made to Westside Christian School or Covenant Village of the Great Lakes. Please visit Glenn's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or sign the online guestbook.