Frank   Tjoelker

Frank Tjoelker, aged 83, was welcomed into his eternal home on September 2, 2014.  He was set free from this earthly existence and fully restored in his savior, Jesus Christ.  He was born on February 5, 1931 in Lynden, Washington. He attended elementary school in Lynden, completed high school by correspondence in Chicago, and graduated from Calvin College in 1960.  He taught history and economics for 21 years at Grandville Junior High and Grandville High School.  He got a brokerage license and helped to found Royal Securities Company in 1982, where he served as President and Chairman of the Board for 20 years. He was a kind, gentle, loving husband and father who strived to serve others and the Lord.  Frank was a man of unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He believed in the power of prayer.  He put his confident trust in the promises of God’s protection, deliverance, forgiveness, and eternal life. He blessed us with his sense of humor and his love to laugh. Frank was very active in Gideons International and gave away over 1,000 Bibles over the years.  His greatest passion was sharing the Word of God with everyone he could! He is survived by his loving wife of  48 years, Rachel Tjoelker; son, Andrew (Kris) Tjoelker; daughter, Sara (Thad) Roelofs, and son, Frank David Tjoelker;  his adoring grandchildren;  siblings, Irene Nieboer, John (Maxine) Tjoelker, Lena Jones, Henry (Eleanor) Tjoelker, Whim Orr, Pete (Gloria) Tjoelker, Annette (Rich) Schalo; sisters-in-law, Leona Tjoelker, Esther (Dick) Ross; brothers-in-law, Dan (Ruth) Howell, James (Faye) Howell; many nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Peter Tjoelker; brother, Charles Tjoelker; brother-in-law, Norman Jones; sister-in-law, Rosemary Howell.  A Celebration of Frank’s life will be held on Monday 11 am at Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, 4375 Ivanrest SW, Grandville.  Burial will take place at Grandville Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Drive SW. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Gideons International. The family welcomes messages and memories online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.   "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"  1 Cor 15:54-57