Ralph Vander Klok

Ralph VanderKlok Jr. met life with practical intelligence, steady devotion, and an eagerness to learn, build, taste, or try something new. A concrete man by trade and a problem-solver by nature, he could fix nearly anything—or stay with it until he figured it out. He was happiest among family and friends, with a good meal nearby and perhaps a project, fishing line, or puzzle occupying his capable hands.

Ralph was born May 2, 1934, in Grand Rapids, when radio and the automobile were changing how Americans connected and traveled, and Michigan’s makers were helping shape a more mobile country. Grand Rapids remained a city of factories, churches, and close neighborhood ties—an apt beginning for a boy who would become a builder, traveler, and devoted family man. The fifth of eight children born to Ralph and Marie VanderKlok, he grew up on the city’s northwest side, where his father worked for American Motors and his mother managed their busy home.

Money was scarce, and everything worth having was shared. If Ralph managed to bring home a candy bar, it was carefully cut into eight equal pieces so every child received a taste. That made the day Ralph and one of his brothers had their tonsils removed especially memorable: their father opened his trunk and pulled out two shiny, brand-new dump trucks for the boys. Another day, a grocery truck accidentally dropped a box of raisins in the street. Ralph and the other boys gathered them up, sold them, and promptly spent every cent on snacks and candy. Their father was far less impressed with their business sense than they were.

Ralph walked to Oakleigh Elementary and later Union High School. After the tenth grade, he left school to earn a living, a decision that disappointed his mother but began a lifetime of steady work. At a commercial laundry service, he began noticing a young woman named Marilyn Katsma as she walked past on her way to school. A few months later, Ralph spotted her on Leonard Street and offered her a ride while he was out with friends—their first official meeting. Nothing came of it at first, but Ralph tried again and asked Marilyn to a New Year’s Eve party welcoming 1955. She happily accepted. After only a few months of dating, they married on October 7, 1955, honeymooned in Chicago, and settled into an apartment on the northwest side of Grand Rapids.

Ralph worked for Kelvinator for nine years before joining his brother Andy to establish VanderKlok Brothers. Together they specialized in concrete flatwork, pouring driveways and floors for Eastbrook Homes and later installing pads for Michigan Bell. The work suited Ralph: it was physical, exacting, useful, and left behind something solid. He applied those same skills at home, building the family’s longtime house near Four Mile Road and Alpine Avenue.

That house became home for Ralph and Marilyn’s three children, Ralph III, Kathy, and Kristy, and a gathering place for the generations that followed. Summers often meant weeks of camping at Silver Lake, Grand Haven, Muskegon, near the Mackinac Bridge, or in Saugatuck with friends and the entire family. Ralph also planted large gardens and took particular pleasure in growing yellow beans. His favorite dinner brought those beans to the table alongside pot roast and mashed potatoes. Birthdays and family “hamburg fries” gave him plenty of reasons to fill the house and yard with the people he loved.

The death of their son, Ralph, in a car accident in 1981 brought a sorrow that remained part of their lives. Ralph and Marilyn leaned on each other and on the family, friendships, and faith that had long surrounded them. Their church life included years at Twelfth Street Christian Reformed Church and later Westend Christian Reformed Church.

The scarcity of Ralph’s childhood helped fuel his enthusiasm for new things and new experiences. He enjoyed golf and snowmobiling, fished for bluegill in Michigan and blues in Florida, and was always interested in what he might try next. For more than 40 years—closer to 50—he and Marilyn had a place on Nettles Island in Florida. It brought them sunshine, fishing, and years of fun with a close circle of friends before they sold it in 2018. Ralph and Marilyn also took numerous bus tours and enjoyed volunteering in Mississippi, continuing to find new places, useful work, and good company.

In 1997, Andy retired, but Ralph wanted to keep working. So his son-in-law Dale became his partner and they created Hyma Utilities. they continued doing flatwork for Michigan Bell. But Dale’s sudden death later that year changed those plans and ultimately led to the closing of the business and Ralph’s retirement. He left behind decades of driveways, floors, and concrete pads—quiet evidence of a working life spent making things level, sound, and built to last.

Retirement gave Ralph more time for other interests. He began cooking and experimenting with new recipes, although oatmeal-raisin cookies required no experimentation to win his approval. His daughters affectionately called him the Cookie Monster because of how quickly those favorites disappeared. He and Marilyn also spent quieter hours reading and assembling jigsaw puzzles.

Marilyn died in August 2026, after nearly 71 years of marriage. Ralph died on September 12, 2026, at age 92, leaving a large family shaped by the home, traditions, work ethic, and sense of togetherness he and Marilyn had created.

Across those 92 years, Ralph turned a childhood of carefully divided treats into a life rich with family gatherings, travel, friendship, and the freedom to try new things. He built a home, a business, and a dependable place for others in his life. The clearest way to picture him may be at a crowded family table, pleased to have his pot roast, mashed potatoes, and yellow beans before him—and keeping a watchful eye on the oatmeal-raisin cookies. It is a scene filled with what mattered most to Ralph: family close by, plenty to share, and the chance to enjoy what was right in front of him.

Obituary: VANDERKLOK Ralph VanderKlok Jr. age 92, of Grand Rapids, passed away on September 12, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; son, Ralph VanderKlok III; son-in-law, Dale Hyma; great-granddaughter, Caroline Mulder; and 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Ralph is survived by his daughters, Kathy Hyma and Kristy (Bill) Mulder; daughter-in-law, Michelle Thiss; grandchildren, Bradley VanderKlok, Nick (Alicia) Hyma, Katie Hyma, Kyle (Lisa) Hyma, Rachel (Jeff) Beld, Josh (Amalia) Mulder, Alec (Samantha) Mulder, and Nikki (Mike) Koning; and great-grandchildren, Alyssah, Alex, Noelle, Joey, Titus, Asher, Coen, Noah, Charlee, Louis, Ben, Max, Jace, Emmie, Colton and Sammy. Also surviving are his brother, Andy (Joyce) VanderKlok; sister, Marilyn Vanderlind; sisters-in-law, Joan VanderKlok and Joyce (Bob) Bergsma; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at Westend Christian Reformed Church, 1015 Westend Ave NW. Family and friends may gather from 10 AM until the start of the service. Interment in Washington Park Memorial Gardens. Contributions in his memory may be made to Faith Hospice or the Christian Education Fund at Westend CRC. Celebrate Ralph’s life by sharing your favorite memory or picture on his dedicated memory page at heritagelifestory.com