Leonard Berghoef

Leonard J. Berghoef, age 75, of Jenison, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 28, 2025, after many years of illness. His later years were filled with pain, yet he always had his focus on Jesus Christ. We are comforted knowing God has brought him home to be forever with Him in Glory, where there is no more pain. Len was born in 1949, in the Netherlands and immigrated with his family when he was two years old. He contracted Polio before he turned three and through innovative surgery he learned to walk again. He had a career in the furniture industry until Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) forced an early retirement. Through years of PPS and Leukemia, he grew closer to the Lord. His favorite Bible book was the Psalms, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Over the years, Len has served as Sunday School Teacher, Cadet Counselor, Deacon and Elder. He had fond memories of his time in Alaska, which Len loved to reminisce about, as well as camping adventures with Elly and their children: Jennifer, Bryan, and Jason. Len was preceded in death by his parents, Gerard and Audrey and his precious daughter, Jennifer. He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Elly; sons: Bryan (Christy) and Jason (Jennifer); Jennifer’s children: Bailey (Patrick) Corn, Madison (Alec) Lockwood, Carter Pell; and their father, Todd Pell; Bryan’s children: Henry, Winston, Charles, and Josephine; Jason’s children: Elijah and Benjamin; great-grandchildren: Wilkes Harris, Lennie Louise, and Blakely Rae; sister, Amy (James) Redder; brother, Michael (Helen); Elly’s brothers and their families in the Netherlands; aunt, Millie Berghoef; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express a special thanks to Len’s hospice nurse, Lisa, and Dr. Michael Dozeman for the wonderful care given to Len in the past two years. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 8, at 11 a.m. at Bethany United Reformed Church, 5401 Byron Center Ave., Wyoming, with Rev. Eric Van Der Molen and Rev. Casey Freswick officiating. A private burial will take place at Georgetown Township Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Monday, April 7, from 4-6 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW and on Tuesday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Faith Hospice. 

The service will be live streamed and can be viewed via this link.