John Idema

John Clare Idema epitomized the best of the American Spirit: he joined the US Army for two years, he loved the outdoors and owned a farm, and he was an active member in his church; but most importantly, he was a loving husband and a dedicated father and grandfather. John was a man who cared for everyone he knew, and he expressed this care through his generosity and willingness to always lend a helping hand.

John was born in Grand Rapids on July 22, 1931 during a difficult time in American history, the Great Depression. Despite the economic hardships of the era, John’s parents Bert and Harriet provided a healthy and stable home. Bert worked for the gas company, a job which kept him occupied during the day, while Harriet kept the house shipshape and looked after John and his younger brother David. When John grew older, he spent more and more time with his Grandpa Lubben. He helped his grandpa run his milk route in the mornings, the two of them riding together on a horse drawn wagon, and he also helped his grandpa during thrashing season. John’s close relationship with his grandpa inspired his love for the outdoors, and from an early age, John spent most of his summers on the farm in Coopersville. Yet John also excelled in the classroom. He was very bright—bright enough to skip a grade in elementary school—and he went on to graduate from Union High School in Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Junior College. John’s ability in academics and his appreciation for the outdoors joined forces during his college education at Michigan State University, where he majored in forest products. During his college years he spent his summers working as an intern in a logging camp in Washington state with his good friend, Ken Staugas. He graduated from Michigan State in 1953.

1953 was a year of changes for John. In addition to graduating from college, on November 3rd he joined the United States Army where he served as a cook at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; he was discharged two years later. However, the greatest change this year brought for John was marriage; it was in 1953 that John married Shirley Krapp, beginning a marriage that would last fifty years. John and Shirley knew each other as children—they lived across the street from one another—they were just good friends while they were growing up. This obviously changed.

For the first two years of John’s marriage to Shirley, he lived at Fort Bragg Army base in North Carolina, but after his discharge, he returned to the west side of Grand Rapids to find employment and start a family. He worked in Customer Service and Quality Control for American Seating, and this is the company from which he ended up retiring after 44 years of service. Both he and Shirley believed in the importance of travel, and when his children Lora and Andy were growing up, the family took fun, albeit educational, trips to places like Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Florida, Kentucky and Mackinac Island. Traveling always enabled John and Shirley to spend more time together, and on their 25th anniversary, they headed off to Europe together—this time they left the kids behind. Five years later, for their 30th anniversary, John and Shirley traveled again . . . except this time in a hot air balloon!

John’s other lifelong love was the outdoors. He often traveled to Wyoming to go hunting with his family in pursuit of mule deer and antelope. He also hunted whitetail deer, turkey, upland game, and waterfowl on the farm. He and Shirley bought land on Upper Lake, and with the help of his brother David, John built a cottage there were he enjoyed fishing with his children and grandchildren. In 1986, John and Shirley purchased more land, this time eighty acres of farmland in Hersey. They had a couple of cows, and both John and Shirley enjoyed the natural features of the land. John loved the farm, and he also loved the company of his family there. Just as the Coopersville farm where John spent his childhood summers proved to be a special place for him, the farm in Hersey was also a special place for John and his family. It was on that Coopersville farm that John really bonded with his grandpa, and now that John had his own farm, he reenacted the role of his own grandpa with his four grandsons, Dan, Tom, Mike, and Matt. John was very involved in the lives of his grandsons, and he especially supported their musical efforts in the band.

John belonged to many organizations throughout his life. In addition to the two years he spent with the Army, he was a member of the American Legion North Park Post #401, a Junior Achievement Advisor and member of APICS and ASQC, and the Treasurer of the Upper Lake Association. On Thursday at Gracewell Golf Course, he played golf with his coworkers at American Seating. He was an active member of Park Church, and he expressed his love for music by singing in the church choir; he also sang in a male chorus at American Seating. He enjoyed classical music, and he helped cultivate his grandsons’ appreciation for music. He walked four miles everyday (except for the opening day of the deer season, a day he instead spent watching for deer), and despite this healthy pastime, he suffered two heart attacks in his life. John respected nature, a respect he taught to others through his example, and he loved his family. He is remembered by those who knew him best as very kind and helpful and always supportive. He and Shirley recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

John, at age 72, passed away peacefully at home on March 26, 2004, with his family by his side. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Shirley; children Lora (David) Lingenfelter, Andy (Lori) Idema; grandchildren Dan and Tom Lingenfelter, Mike and Matt Idema; brother David (Ruth Ann) Idema; in-laws Roger (Doris) Krapp, Mrs. Robert Williams; Aunt Elaine Lubben; and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to meet with John’s family on Monday from 7-9 PM. The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 30 at 1 PM at Van’t Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard NW. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read John’s life story, submit a memory, or make a memorial contribution to Visiting Nurse Association or American Heart Association.

John will be greatly missed.