Visitation
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST
Sunset Manor
725 Baldwin Street
Jenison, MI 49428
(616) 457-2770
Service
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
11:00 AM EST
Sunset Manor
725 Baldwin Street
Jenison, MI 49428
(616) 457-2770
Contributions
At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.
Faith Hospice
8214 Pfeiffer Farms Dr. SW
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 235-5113
Driving Directions
Web Site
Sunset Manor
725 Baldwin Street
Jenison, MI 49428
(616) 457-2770
Flowers
Below is florist information recommended by the funeral home.
Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Life Story / Obituary
Henry Jonker was a devout Christian, and his strong faith was a hallmark of his life. Beyond this distinction, however, he was a man of great compassion, hard work and honesty. Henry cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them and sharing much love and laughter along the way.
In 1918, life in the United States was very different from what it is today. Things such as women having the right to vote, long distance travel and communications, and workplace rights and safety were not realities. For Peter and Hattie (Van Wyngarden) Jonker, living in Pella, Iowa, daily concerns were not with these issues, but with providing a home for themselves and their children. Already the parents of two children, on April 22, 1918, the couple welcomed the birth of their son, Henry Arthur. The Jonker home would eventually be a bustling place with the busyness of seven children.
While Hattie had her hands full as a homemaker, Peter worked their family vegetable farm. Henry was just a young boy when his paternal grandfather died and left his 40-acre farm in Byron Center, Michigan to his father, Peter. This led the family to move to Grand Rapids, where they continued the farm, raising cattle and pigs. Although farming is pretty much dirty work, they taught the cows to walk on planks so not to get muddy, and the pigs rolled around on grass, instead of mushy mud. From his first days at Winchester Elementary School, Henry proved to be a bright boy. Most boys of the time would leave school before graduating in order to work, but Henry’s teachers talked to his father so that he could stay in school. He went on to be the salutatorian of his graduating class at Byron Center High School in 1937.
After high school, Henry joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and lived and worked in Northern Michigan, dispensing medicine. Then, in 1938, he followed the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Henry proudly served during World War II as Storekeeper 2nd Class aboard the USS Salamonie, an underway fleet replenishment oil tanker. While transporting aircraft fuel all over the world, Henry had passed through every ocean, except the Indian, and even saw a tanker behind them destroyed by a bomb.
In 1939, while home on furlough, Henry met a lovely young lady at the Coliseum Skating Rink, her name was Margaret Meyer. The two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married at her mother’s home on May 28, 1942. Because Henry was still in the service, the newlyweds honeymooned in Norfolk, Virginia, his home port. After his discharge in 1946, Henry went to work at General Motors, but when they went on strike, he changed careers and became a postman. This was a good paying job, which came at a good time because it wasn’t long before Henry and Margaret welcomed the birth of their first child in 1946, a daughter they named Shirley. She was later joined by Wayne in 1948, Dan in 1952, and Carol in 1957.
For Henry, family was always his first priority. He worked very hard to provide for them, and even held 2 or 3 jobs to ensure his children got a good education. Aside from a strong work ethic, Henry instilled in his children the value of money, and once they were working, he charged them room and board, which he saved and gave back to them in full, plus more. The most important example Henry set for his children was how to be a good, faithful Christian. He was a member of the Christian Reformed Church his entire life, and also led the Men’s Bible Study for many years.
After 36 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Henry retired in 1975. He then went to work for his son, Wayne, at Kenowa Auto Supply in Allendale for ten years. Being semi-retired gave Henry and Margaret more time to spend together, doing some of the things they loved, like taking color tours in the fall, and camping at Sand Lake every summer with his brother, Harold, and his wife, Betty. They very much enjoyed traveling and took a trip to Europe, a train ride through the Rockies and several mystery bus tours. For several years, the couple also headed south to Florida for the winter. Always active, Henry enjoyed bowling for many years on Friday night leagues. He proudly displayed his score card from 1997, where he bowled a 220. During the winter, Henry also liked to go ice fishing on White Lake or off the pier on Lake Michigan. For most of his life, Henry was a faithful blood donor and over time probably gave several gallons in all. He was known for being very detail oriented, not to mention an immaculate record keeping. In fact, Henry rotated his shoes and socks, for better results.
Above all, Henry loved to be surrounded by the love and smiles of his family. He especially looked forward to their Sunday dinners, where teasing and laughter always filled the room. As they grew older, Henry and Margaret did not want to be a burden on their children, and felt they needed some additional help, so they moved to the retirement community of Sunset Manor. It wasn’t long before they were enjoying the many activities of the community, including billiards and helping to organize elections.
Henry was an amazing man of character, love and faith. He lived his life deliberately, with a sense of purpose and, above all, for the Lord. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and he leaves his family with fond memories and assurances of his love for them.
Henry A. Jonker, age 89 of Jenison, MI, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 9, 2008. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Hattie Jonker; sisters: Elizabeth Jonker, Cora Hayes and Lillian Folk; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Robert Overholt, Charles Hayes, Jay Meyer, Albert Cook, Robert and Dorothy Long. He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Meyer); their children: Shirley and Dan Lawton, Wayne and Joyce Jonker, Dan and Sue Jonker, Carol and Tim Cartwright; grandchildren: Shawn (Molly) Lawton, Lisa (Daryl) Greenwood, Wendy (Todd) Hoekstra, Shayne (Michele) Jonker, Randall Jonker, Gina (Brian) Woloszyk, Carie (Jason) Cummings, Kelly Jonker, Katie (Drew) Willard, Linda (Matt) Zimmerman, Tony Cartwright; great grandchildren: Jonathon, Meghan and Jessica Lawton; Meryl and Madison Mabin; Daniel, Brad, Jack and Emily Hoekstra; Cassandra and Alexandra Jonker; Bobbie Ann Jonker; Joseph Woloszyk; Ashlee and Carson Cummings; Alexis Jonker; Olivia Anne Willard; Shelly Zimmerman; brothers and sisters: Leona Overholt, John and Sadie Jonker, Harold and Betty Jonker; sisters-in-law: Rita Meyer and Millie Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate Henry’s life will be held on Tuesday, February 12, at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Sunset Manor, where relatives and friends may visit together with his family from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery. Please visit Henry’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory with his family or sign his online guest book.