John   Stuive

Stuive John John was born in Bierum, Netherlands, on July, 20, 1938. He grew up during the war and its aftermath. His parents, looking for greater opportunity for their children, immigrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when John was thirteen years old.  John attended Grand Rapids Christian High School and then enlisted in the US Army. When John returned home, he worked at the produce and garden center on Division and 40th. Over the years he became the sole proprietor of that enterprise.  John married Johanna DeBoode on May 18, 1961. Children soon followed: Laurie in 1962, John in 1963, and Lisa in 1965. Heading a household and running a store kept John busy, but he still had time to be active in his church, Lee Street Christian Reformed, and the schools his children attended. Indeed, no matter how pressed John was, he always had the time and resources to help out those in need around him.  After more than 25 years in the produce business John switched careers and became a real estate agent. He continued in that vocation until caring for Jo (she suffered from MS) demanded all of his time and attention. After Jo passed in 2012 it soon became apparent that John had been covering his own deteriorating health.  John was a voracious reader. He also particularly enjoyed Sunday drives, camping, Marge’s Donut Den, and Mentos. He had an irreverent sense of humor. Despite the occasional irreverence, John was a man of very firm convictions. He held fast to those convictions no matter what life threw at him—and it threw a lot of stuff at him. His perseverance has undoubtedly earned him the reward of a comfortable and peaceful spot in heaven with Jo.  John was predeceased by his wife Jo; his parents; his brother Bert; and brothers-in-law, Ronald Rysdam, Kees Gootjes, Carey Kosters, and Stanley Quist; and his sister-in-law, Ellen; as well as his first grandchild Anna. He leaves behind his children, Lauran and David Hardin, John Stuive and Kathleen Feeney, Lisa DeVries and Ron DeVries; his grandchildren, James, Drew, Kaila, Liza, Jacob, and Clara; brothers and sisters and in-laws, Ann Gootjes, Dr. Bruce and Cobie Muller, Marilyn Lythgoe, Trudy Rysdam, Bill and Phyllis DeBoode, Wilma Quist, Marge Kosters, Paul and Sue DeBoode, Ade and Bonnie DeBoode, John and Linda DeBoode, Rachel and Randy VanDyke; and dozens of nephews and nieces (regular and grand).  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 11 am at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. with Pastor Mark Quist officiating.  Interment Plainfield Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday, December 22 from 5-8 pm at the funeral home.  Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Spectrum Health Hospice.