Henry VanDyke Jr.

Henry VanDyke Jr., age 88, of Grand Rapids, MI went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 23, 2022, in his home surrounded by his family.

Henry was musical from a very young age and by the time he was 18 was playing the pipe organ in churches. He graduated with a bachelors in Physics from the University of Michigan and was drafted into the US Army. He settled in the Washington DC area where he worked for the US Navy on nuclear submarines and later for NASA on weather satellites. All the while he continued to play and restore pipe organs and his career as an organist spanned over 50 years.

Henry was also a dedicated husband. His 52-year marriage to Carol Winters began in 1964 and ended with Carol’s passing in 2017. He was also a dedicated and patient father to three children and loved to go biking, camping, or to the botanical gardens on Sundays. Henry had a willing spirit and was authentic, consistent, honest, and kind.

He was a faithful mentor for Crossroads Prison Ministries for nearly 15 years, a member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and a member of the Joyful Sound Singers. He was a member of LaGrave Christian Reformed Church and a regular attender of the Westminster Presbyterian Churchmen’s Luncheon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol VanDyke; his parents, Henry & Jenny VanDyke; his siblings, Gerrit VanDyke, Gilbert VanDyke, Wilma Lindemulder, and Martin VanDyke.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Cameron (Rachael) VanDyke, Kurt Johnson, Jolene (Mauricio) Deras; his grandchildren, Aubriel VanDyke, Edgar Deras, Jordan Deras, Leonard Deras, and Caleb Deras; close friend of the family, Joshia Taylor; brother, John VanDyke; sister, Henrietta Sjoerdsma; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 11 am Saturday, October 29 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood, with Rev. Rodney Otto officiating. Burial will be held at Pine Hill Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Saturday from 10 to 11 am at the funeral home prior to the service. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Crossroads Prison Ministries https://cpministries.org/donate. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.