John VanderHelm

John VanderHelm, age 96, of Jenison, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, January 29, 2022. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann (Woltjer) VanderHelm; daughter, Wilma Vande Guchte; and siblings, Willemina Hovius, Pieter VanderHelm, Hiltje Bolhuis. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Tena Dykman VanderHelm; children, Mary and Nick Flacco, Bern and Tracy VanderHelm, Herm and Karen VanderHelm, Marcia and Dean Allen, Roger and Terri VanderHelm, Steve and Kim VanderHelm, Rob Vande Guchte; stepchildren, Kathy Towers, Dan and Kim Dykman, Ken and Patty Dykman; grandchildren, Kyle VanderHelm, Ryan VanderHelm, Eric VanderHelm, Jeremiah VanderHelm, Rebekah VanderHelm, Tara and Chad Hudson, Eric Oppenhuizen, Kristen VanderHelm, Andrew VanderHelm, Michelle and Brett Duggan, Steven and Katie Dykman, Kelly Dykman, Mike and Audree Towers, Thomas and Katelyn Dykman, Nick Allen, Kaelee Allen, Justin and Danielle Allen, Zach Vande Guchte, Josh and Kristin Vande Guchte, Beth VanThiel, Michael and Stephanie VanderHelm, Jordan and Jamie Flacco, Nicole Flacco and Zach Agrums; many great-grandchildren; sister, Annie Boerema; sisters-in-law, Cathy VanDyke, Annie Agema, Marilouise Woltjer; nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. John worked at Unity Christian High School as maintenance man and custodian for 22 years. He had a listening ear to students who gathered around him at lunchtime, or heard him share as teachers pulled him into their classrooms to speak of his faith, his life as an immigrant, life in general, the war , or just to answer their “John what do you think?” He had a lot to say on almost any subject, and thought his opinion was the right one (all the time) (every time) (until the end). We remember him by his stories, how he made us smile and laugh, how he made us shake our heads in disbelief at what he had just said, how he loved old hymns, and sang them loudly. He loved his family, every one of them, and their friends. He had a strong belief that some rules were meant to be bent if not broken, and we followed in his footsteps. He loved sitting with his friends at Sunset to shoot the breeze about politics, religion, cars and lunch. He was a bean bag champion and could still win any of us even after he was legally blind. He was always here, all 96 years of him, and though we are grateful for every minute and that he is not suffering anymore, we are missing him. You’re home now Dad. Until we meet again. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW with Rev. Steve Postma officiating. The burial will take place at Georgetown Township Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Thursday, February 10, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sunset Legacy Foundation.