Gretchen and George, We are so sorry for your loss. Our hearts go out to you.
Barry and Dana
Heerema, Jacob (Jack)
Jacob (Jack) Heerema died Tuesday, October 25, 2011, after living for almost 101 years. Born December 20, 1910 in Orange City, Iowa, he was the first child of his Dutch immigrant parents, Albert and Gerbina Heerema. Boyhood was spent in the Iowa towns of Hospers, Grundy Center, and Sioux Center along with brother Edward (deceased), sister Elizabeth, and brother Nicholas, and where he, for the most part, attended Christian schools. Jack married Thelma Vredevoogd, of Grandville in 1944, and they lived most of their married years in Oak Park, IL. They moved back to Michigan after retiring and were married for 55 years until Thelma’s death in 2000. Jack was also preceded in death by an infant son, James. He is survived by his four children, Gretchen (George) Zuiderveen, Norm (Sandie) Heerema, Allen (Gert) Heerema, Susan Heerema; sister, Elizabeth Andrews; brother, Dr. Nicholas (Joetta) Heerema; sisters-in-law, Bertha Heerema, Betty Ann Zwemer, Ethel Teer, Bea Hoeksema, Wilma Vredevoogd, Penny Dykstra; brother-in-law, Carl Fopma. He lived to see his eleven grandchildren grow into adulthood: Josh Zuiderveen, Jessica Colton, Craig Heerema, Jill VanDenend, Traci Hoogendoorn, Eric Heerema, Kelly Day, Jamie Wolgemuth, Steve Reynolds, Jason Reynolds, and Marianna Reynolds. He also lived to know of and see most of his seventeen great grandchildren. Jack attended Grundy Junior College, graduated from Calvin College in 1932, and continued his education in chemistry and mathematics at the University of Iowa, earning a Masters Degree in analytical chemistry. He did work in spectroscopy and polymer research at Dow Chemical Co., then worked in labs at Tanglefoot Co. and Haskelite. He finished his career at Corn Products Refining Company, where he worked for 26 years, including the development of analytical methods, various product development projects, polymer end-group analysis, and work related to the prevention of dust explosions. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00am at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home, (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. Interment Georgetown Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to All God’s Children, (www.agcltd.org), P.O. Box 5909, Villa Park, IL 60181. Relatives and friends may meet the family Friday from 6-8 pm at the funeral home.
Guestbook
Jacob (Jack) Heerema
October 29, 2011
Gretchen & George, Your name stuck out at me as I viewed the obits. Wow -- to have a dad for almost a 100 years -- that's quite a record! You come from hardy stock. May you experience blessings even in this time of loss. Hope to run into you again soon.
God's blessings!
Ilene Woldhuis
God's blessings!
Ilene Woldhuis
Blessings to the Family & close friends. I've known his daughter Susan for quite some time and her dad was the center of her world. She always lit up when she talked about time spent with him. What a blessing to have him around for 100+ years.
Todd Steverson
Todd Steverson
Dr Kobiela