Westrate I, Richard John

 WESTRATE – Richard John Westrate I, aged 87, of Kentwood passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Tena Westrate; brothers, Marinus, Neil, Robert and James; sister, Myna DeBlaay.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Gertrude; children: Janna and Dave Shamery, Laurie and John VanZweden, Dick and Lynn Westrate, Jim and Tammy Westrate, Tim and Joan Westrate; 20 grandchildren (5 great-grandchildren): Brenda and Timothy Pols, Bethany and Nick Prince, Rachel VanZweden, Benjamin VanZweden, Rick and Kelli (Chloe, Elijah, Oliver) Westrate, Kate Westrate, Nate and Karina (Jaxon, Gianni) Westrate, Kim Westrate, Nick Westrate, Rebeckah, Tina, James, Tom, Elianna, Stephanie, Paula Westrate, Tim, Tyler, Kyle, Sara Westrate; brother and sisters: Tony and Lena Westrate, Marge Kamps, John and Joan Kamp, Emeline Kamp, Jane and Dan DeMeester, Helen Kamp, Dick and Ruth Kamp, Martina and George Feyter, Henry and Lena Kamp, Ada and Henry Bloem; many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Richard honorably served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Honolulu during WW II – Pacific Theater. Funeral services for Richard will be held 10:30 am Saturday at Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, 540 Crescent St. NE, Grand Rapids, with Rev. Foppe VanderZwaag officiating. Interment Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens with Rev. Joel Beeke. The family will receive relatives and friends Friday 2-4 and 7-9pm at the Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo SE, Kentwood. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Inheritance Publishers, Plymouth Christian Schools Foundation or Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.