Ted Markus

Ted Markus was a man with a lifetime of blessings and was always grateful to God for all that he had. He was a talented athlete, a proud veteran, a dedicated employee, and a loyal friend, and as good and decent and hardworking a man as you'd ever know. But more importantly, he was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather who loved his family more than anything. Ted was blessed with much and we were so blessed to know him.

Ted's story began on a cold winter day in 1936, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were hopeful times for our beleaguered nation, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal was beginning to pull the country from the quagmire of the Great Depression. In Grand Rapids, Adrian and Maude (Sporte) Markus found even more reason for hope that winter, with the special birth of a baby boy. On February 7, 1936, a frosty Friday in the city, they celebrated the birth of a son they named Theodore.

Ted's birth meant so much to the family, who had sadly lost one of their twin daughters, Joyce, at a young age before he was born. Ted was 10 years younger than his nearest sibling, joining Leona, Ed, Jean and June. His older brother and sisters adored their new baby brother and loved looking after him as he was a young boy. In many ways, Ted became the glue that held the family together, a special child they all doted on and adored.

Ted's father was a sheet metal worker and was often away on various job sites, leaving Ted home with his mother. Perhaps because she had lost a daughter early in life, or perhaps because he was the youngest, Ted's mother coddled him as a child, and didn't make him get the immunization shots before school. He and his mother were naturally very close and traveled often together, even taking bus rides across the country to visit his siblings and their families.

Ted and his family faithfully attended Creston Christian Reformed Church where Ted would be a lifelong member. He also attended Creston Christian School for a time, before going to Eastern Avenue Elementary. He later graduated from Creston High School where he excelled on the track team, even running a five-minute mile! He was also the manager of the football team and participated on the school newspaper.

Outside of school, Ted enjoyed playing hockey, and would walk from home to Stadium Arena on the weekends to play with his Bango Popcorn team. Ted was the goalie, in the days without pads or masks, and his team won the championship one year.

After graduating from high school, Ted worked at Evans Printing company for a few years. There he met a beautiful young woman named Phyllis Bouwman, whose striking red dress caught his eye. He summoned the courage to ask her out and she of course agreed. Their first date was going swimming in Grand Haven and a lifelong love affair was formed on that sandy beach that day. They dated for awhile, and soon became engaged.

Ted then joined the Air Force and was sent overseas, away from his beloved Phyllis. He spent a year in Korea just after the war had ended, before returning to the states. On his leave from duty, he returned home to marry Phyllis, on September 19, 1958. The newlyweds traveled around Michigan for their honeymoon, and watched a game at Tiger Stadium before heading home.

Phyllis joined Ted for a time in Louisiana where he was stationed, before returning to Michigan to find a job and await his arrival. He was discharged in 1961 and reunited with his bride in Grand Rapids. It wasn't long before the husband and wife also became father and mother. Ted and Phyllis were blessed with two wonderful children, first their son Scott, and two years later, with their daughter Jill.

Ted worked a few jobs before landing a position at Dickinson Press, a job he loved and kept for the next 37 years. There he worked as a cost accountant, giving him a chance to work with people and in the print industry he found so fascinating. His employers loved Ted, and took good care of him.

As excellent as Ted was at work, he was even better with his family. He was a wonderful father who was always thrilled to be around his children and his family was always number one to him. He coached Scott's little league team, (and later became president of the league), and those games were truly a family affair. He balanced work, family and his free time perfectly. He eventually went back to school, but dropped out when he found it took too much time from his family (later he would earn his associate's degree, however).

The family did much together, including trips to Florida, out west, and out east, too. The trips were all memorable, and wherever they went, Ted always stopped to read the plaques, possessing an active and inquisitive mind.

Ted raised his children to be fine people, with the same great faith in the Lord he had. The kids were both raised in the Creston Christian Reformed Church and Ted often reminded them that they should thank God for all he had provided them. He also served as a deacon and elder for many years.

Ted retired in 2001, and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement. He and his beloved Phyllis took several trips, including two cruises, and visited both Hawaii and Alaska. Ted also enjoyed bowling, for the social aspect, and golf, which he was more competitive in playing. He enjoyed quiet times in the yard, with his raspberry and tomato plants (but hated planting Phyllis' bulbs!). He also enjoyed not-so-quiet times, cheering on the Michigan football team, whose performance dictated his mood the rest of the day.

Most of all, Ted enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his beloved grandkids. He loved being a big kid alongside them, and taught them to blow bubbles in their milk, make silly faces, and to raise their glasses and "cheer" each other, much to their parents' dismay! One of his greatest thrills was listening to his grandkids read their books to him. His greatest desire for his grandkids was that they would someday know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Ted also loved his wife so dearly, who was truly his best friend. Every Sunday they shared some ice cream exactly at 4:30 PM, a tradition Ted made sure they kept up faithfully.

Ted was always a fun-loving man, who enjoyed innocent practical jokes, or listening to people tell their stories. He often wore a broad smile on his face, the smile of man with so many blessings, with such a love for the Lord and at peace with himself.

In July of 2006, Ted had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his liver, yet sadly, died of complications from that surgery on September 28, 2006.

Ted was a wonderful man, such a gentle, caring, thoughtful person, who was so devoted to his faith and his family. He made sure his family knew how much they meant to him, telling them often, "I want you to know that I love you guys." Such a simple phrase, yet so deeply felt, so deeply cherished. Ted was so thankful to God for all that he was blessed with, just as we are so blessed to have known him. He will be so greatly missed.

Mr. Theodore R. Markus, age 70 of Grand Rapids, went to his heavenly home on September 28, 2006. He was preceded in death by his siblings Leona Kooyers, Adrian "Ed" Markus, June Fikkert and Joyce Markus. Ted is survived by his wife of 48 years, Phyllis; their children Scott and Susan Markus, Jill and Dirk Feikema; grandchildren Megan and Mindy Markus, Andrew and Emily Feikema; sister Jean (Harold) Wolf and many nieces, nephews and friends. A service to celebrate God's faithfulness in Ted's life will be held on Monday, October 2 at 1 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where relatives and friends are invited to meet with his family on Saturday from 6-8 PM and on Sunday from 3-5 PM. Interment in Fairplains Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Creston CRC Education Society are appreciated. To read more about Ted's life, to sign the online book or share a favorite photo or memory, visit www.lifestorynet.com