Jack Gritter

Jack Gritter was not someone consumed by the material gains in life, but by the satisfaction of putting his family first and doing the best job he could with whatever task was at hand. He cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them and sharing much love and laughter. His years of dedicated work afforded him both a happy place in life, and a family that loved him dearly.

1928 represented a brief period of peace and prosperity for the United States. After fighting World War I and before the stock market crash that would lead to the Great Depression, Americans celebrated medical advances that led to the discovery of penicillin; while on the technological front the first television was sold for $75. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, John Gritter and his wife, Tena (Horjus), were having a celebration of their own as they welcomed the birth of their son, Jack. Jack was one of three children with two sisters, Jean and Evelyn. He was just a young boy when his father left the family, leaving his mother to raise the children on her own.

Jack was raised in the Christian faith, and attended West Side Christian School and graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High in 1946. He then went to work at Globe Knitting for a few years before following the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict, stationed on the Canadian island of Newfoundland, where he helped build air bases. Although the service took Jack miles from home, a certain young lady stayed on his mind the entire time he was gone: his high school sweetheart, Shirley Peters. The two were happily married shortly after Jack’s discharge from the military on November 22, 1950. Over the next few years, Jack and Shirley filled their hearts and home with the joy and laughter of three children: David, Daniel and Mary Ann.

With a growing family to support, it was time for Jack to find a job. He had always been highly mechanically minded and loved doing things with his hands, so it was fitting for him to go to work in the auto industry at Stadler Motors, Imperial Motors (3 years), and Rapid Motor Parts (12 years). At the age of 39, Jack decided to change career paths and become the oldest apprentice in the Grand Rapids area to learn the tool and die trade. After completing his apprenticeship, Jack put his skills to good use working at Ranger Tool and Die until his retirement in 1990.

Jack spent his life balancing hard work with being a loving husband and father. He was always very patient with his children and supported them in all their endeavors in life. Jack passed on his interest in aviation. He was an experienced model airplane builder and taught the boys how to build model airplanes for maximum performance. This interest in model aviation led to building radio controlled model airplanes in 1973 and continued into Jack's retirement years. Jack and the boys were members of KRAM, the Kent Radio Areo Modeles and are current members of EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association.

Jack also had an interest in helping his boys work on their cars and even gave up is garage so they had a place to work. Firm yet fair, he instilled in his children the value of the old adage, “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” He always led by example, and his meticulously maintained yard was just one fine example of it. In fact, Jack was such a perfectionist that he sprayed painted a yellow spot in his grass green before a party because he couldn’t stand the “imperfection.”

After retiring at the age of 62, Jack put his mechanical talents to use having fun. With a heart of an engineer, he loved to reconfigure things, making them work even better. He was frugal with extra parts too, keeping them perhaps for future projects. In retirement, Jack spent a good portion of his free time involved with his planes and his memberships with KRAM and EAA. Another one of Jack’s passions was his love for music and building an incredible component stereo system (when component systems were valued). For much of his life, Jack wasn’t much of a pet lover; however, he later learned to enjoy his children's pets.

Jack loved his family dearly, and together he and Shirley spent over 60 wonderful years of marriage. They loved to travel together in their motorhome, and wintered for 12 years in Florida and another 12 years in Mississippi. Church was always an important part of Jack’s life too. He and Shirley were members of the 12th Street Christian Reformed Church for many years until it merged with Westend Christian Reformed Church, and they continued being members here. Jack served in various capacities in the church, both as a Deacon and Elder, and also served on the West Side Christian School Board.

In 2008, Jack faced many challenges with his health. He had to have a kidney removed because of a tumor and underwent treatment thereafter. In the fall of 2010, his symptoms returned and he battled cancer for a second time. Jack spent 30 days in the hospital, during which time the doctors repeatedly replaced a stent between the remaining kidney and the bladder. Then, in February and March 2011, he underwent chemotherapy followed by surgery in April and May, but by then, the cancer had metastasized. Jack had 10 good weeks before things turned for the worse and he passed away on Monday, July 11, 2011.

Although Jack will be dearly missed, his legacy of love and dedication leaves his loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.

Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, David Jack and Mary Ann Gritter, Daniel Mark and Patricia Gritter, Mary Ann and Steve Andreen; 6 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild; sisters, Jean Vander Laan and Evelyn Bruyn; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 14, at 11a.m. at Westend Christian Reformed Church, 1015 Westend, Grand Rapids, MI with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may meet the family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, on Wednesday, July 13, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Christian Rest Home, 1000 Edison NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, or Kid’s Hope c/o Westend Christian Reformed Church, 1015 Westend NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Please visit Jack’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory with his family, upload a photo and sign his online guest book.