William Terpstra, Sr.

Bill Terpstra's life story is a testimony to the impact he had on the lives of the people around him, every day. As a father, a husband, a grandfather, and a friend, the love, dedication, and compassion he showed to each person in his life is beyond compare. Bill saw such beauty in people and in the world around him, and appreciated every one of God's gifts in his life, whether it was the birth of his grandchildren or the flowers that bloomed in his yard. And while he may have had many things that brought him happiness in life, none were more treasured by him than his family.

The years following the stock market crash of 1929 had not been kind to many Americans. Jobs were scarce, money was tight, and the word depression seemed to describe more than just the economy. Some folks found happiness in movies and music, others in books and board games, but no matter what the distraction was, it was just that, a distraction. As winter approached in 1933, however, Gerald Terpstra and his wife Adriana (Beurkens) found a true cause for celebration. On December 2nd, the couple proudly welcomed the arrival of their fourth son, William.

With three older brothers, it might have been easy for young William, or Bill as he was often called, to escape responsibility, but that just wasn't in his nature. Besides, it was the Depression Era and there was little time for fun. Growing up on the west side of Grand Rapids, Bill found that in the summers he could wait on the corner for a farmer to pick him up, to go and harvest beans. His father was employed as a plant superintendent at Steelcase and his mother in a factory, yet Bill always brought his wage home to help the family out. In the little time that Bill found for himself, he enjoyed swimming in Dick's Creek.

In spite of the tough times, Bill still managed to get an education. He began at Zinser Elementary, then moved on to Oakleigh Jr. High, and spent his last years at Union High School. But before he could earn his diploma, he decided to join the Army during the Korean Conflict. In the service Bill achieved much success. He completed his GED, attained the rank of SP3, and even attended culinary school. He became such a proficient chef that when the Generals came for an inspection, they requested that Bill prepare their meals.

After receiving his discharge, Bill returned to Michigan where he began a career in preventative maintenance at General Motors/Delphi that lasted more than 42 years. He also fell in love and got married, however, the marriage did not last. By some accounts his union may have been considered a failure, but on one very important account, it was a success. Together, Bill and his first wife had a son named William, Jr., born on November 26, 1958.

In 1992, Bill gave love a second chance when he began a relationship with Donna Huyser. Bill met Donna years earlier while she was a student nurse and he was awaiting surgery, and on December 27, 1993 she became his wife. The ceremony was held at the home Bill shared with his mother in Walker, and after the wedding, the newlyweds settled in a home of their own in Grandville. While they enjoyed their new place, they also loved to travel, visiting Bill's favorite destinations, Hawaii and Florida, as well as a few other states.

As a young boy, Bill had excelled at art in school and as an adult he found many ways to use his creative talents. He was quite good at landscape design and his yard received compliments from several professional landscapers. He loved flowers and kept more than 70 large pots in his yard every summer. Amazingly, Bill was just as talented inside his home as he was outside. He continued to put his culinary skills to the test creating wonderful dishes for his family to enjoy. Some of his favorites included lobster thermador, barbeque, cakes and pies, and baked beans, made from a secret family recipe. Bill also liked to entertain and had a great eye for interior decorating.

Another thing that hadn't changed since Bill's youth was his devotion to the Lord. Growing up, he attended Richmond Reformed Church with his family and he never abandoned his Christian walk. Bill loved contemporary Christian music, but because he suffered from profound hearing loss, he had great difficulty listening to it. For many years he also had to cope with severe head noise, which was such a serious condition, his doctor said it drove many to take their own life, but not Bill. Instead, he was grateful for what he had and often remarked that he didn't have to look far to see others worse off than he was.

Even when Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, he would not let go of his positive attitude. Nurses and Doctors were drawn to him because he was always upbeat and never once complained. Looking back on Bill's life, one family member had this to say of him, "Bill was a loving, caring, kind person who always put others ahead of himself. He was a hard worker but he loved "retail therapy" (shopping) as well. He leaves a legacy of loving God and all His creations, always looking for the good in people and enjoying nature and all living things. He marveled at the awesomeness of God's creation and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and the offer of eternal life for all who believe." He was a truly great man, who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Mr. William A. Terpstra, Sr., age 73, was brought home by his Good Shepherd after being brought through a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald; mother, Adriana and brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife, Donna of Grandville; son, William A. Terpstra, Jr., and wife Nancee of Walker; three grandchildren, Tony, Andrea, and Adam. Also surviving are brothers and sisters in law, Arlene Terpstra of Grandville, Gerald and Donna Terpstra, Robert and Chris Terpstra all of Baldwin, brother-in-law Curtis (Gloria) Huyser of Beaverdam and many uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 11AM Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW, with interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Saturday from 7-9PM and on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Garden of Hope c/o Pregnancy Resource Center, 415 Cherry St SE, 49503 or the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 3417 Volta Place N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. You may view Bill's Life Story digital film, leave a memory or sign the guestbook by visiting his personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com