Jacob “Jack” Van der Meulen

Jacob Louis “Jack” Van der Meulen, age 76, died on February 12, 2020, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jack was born in Rehoboth, New Mexico, in 1943, to Garret and Ida Van der Meulen, who were workers on the Rehoboth and Zuni mission fields for the Christian Reformed Church.  His family moved back to Michigan in 1951. Jack attended Seymour and Jenison Christian Schools, as well as Unity Christian High School and Calvin College. 

He was a devoted practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and was most proud of having taught Tibetan yoga and meditation at the Nyingma Buddhist Institute in Berkeley, California for more than 30 years. For 28 years, he worked as a site manager for the Eucalyptus Knoll condominiums in Mill Valley, California, where he was known for going above and beyond to be of service. 

Jack took his last breath just as the sun came out, having lived a life of service to all sentient beings. He loved humanity, the natural world and, above all, animals. He was known to pay for vet bills and feeding for pets that weren’t his, and was never without treats in his pocket. As he worked outside, a flock of six ravens often followed him. 

An artist and sculptor, Jack lived for 18 years on a 26-foot boat in Galilee Harbor in Sausalito, California, where he served on the Board of Directors. An activist, he was deeply involved in Sausalito’s “houseboat wars,” preserving the homes of maritime workers and artists, as well as securing a place for some of California’s historic vessels. He wrote art criticism for the Pacific Sun Newspaper, as well as a regular column for the Marinscope Newspaper. He was a member of the Art Zone artists’ group.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Garret and Ida Van der Meulen; and his sister, Nellie Ruth. Jack is survived by his wife, Candace; daughter, Hannah (Anthony); grandchildren, Timothy, Rin and Gia; brother, Peter (Peggy); sisters, Winifred (Richard), Evelyn (Kenneth), and Theda (Ronald); numerous nieces and nephews; and his dear friend, Hartmut Gerdes. He will also be missed by his entire Buddhist spiritual community, hundreds of his students around the world, and many friends of all ages and species.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, at 2:00 p.m., at the Church of the Servant, 3835 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. In honor of Jack’s giving and loving nature, please give flowers to someone who needs them.