Michael Zandstra

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On Sunday, November 29, 2020, Michael Raymond Zandstra, age 70, was surrounded by his family when called to his heavenly home. Mike had been bravely battling cancer, and through it all he remained positive and his love for God has inspired so many people. Mike was a devoted husband to his wife of 49 years, Diane (Nyland), adoring father of Becky and Brian Peuler, beloved ‘Paco’ to his grandchildren, Emerson and Leyla Lou, and friend to all those whose life he touched. He was a firm believer in ‘Relationships Matter’. Born October 5, 1950 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mike was already working in the Byron Center muck fields at a very early age, and developed lifelong friendships starting from that time forward. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marjorie Zandstra (Sommers). Mike was very active in sports in high school and fell in love with his high school sweetheart at just 15 years of age. Mike and Diane had one daughter, Becky, who kept the family busy with sports, cheerleading, and national horse showing. After graduation, Mike went to school at GRCC and Grand Valley State University while working for Amway Corporation for 20 years. After retiring, Mike was able to put his time and passion into his faith and relationships with people. He provided funeral celebrant services to families in the West Michigan area. He loved meeting with residents of the local senior living centers and visiting friends that were in the hospital. Mike never hesitated when he was invited to have lunch with family and friends. After his faith, his family and grandchildren were the most important thing to him, he started babysitting them at only a few months old, from that time forward he was hooked. “Paco”, as Emerson named him, took the kids everywhere they could go, you would see them at different parks in the summer, swimming at the YMCA, walking to Speedway for Slushies, and then all cuddled up on the couch for a nap. As the kids grew, he became a huge supporter of their activities and interests. A very special Santa will be missed this year, as Mike played Santa for many years at Meijer Stores, for extended family and his daughter, then of course his grandchildren. A favorite was for Santa to walk down the street on Christmas Eve with a bell wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, as the grandkids had their noses pressed against the windows. Mike remembered the names of everyone he met, knew their families’ names and facts about them, and stayed in touch through letters and emails for many years. He loved his hobby farm, playing golf, sitting with friends just to talk, teaching his grandkids, and of course Michigan Football. Go Blue! He will be greatly missed by his in-laws, Leslie and Geraldine Nyland; siblings, David and Dorothy Zandstra, Sandra and Joseph Einig, Crystal and Vern Umstead, Randall and Sherry Zandstra, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Patricia and David Morgenstern, Rod Nyland, Les, Jr. and Kathy Nyland; and many nieces and nephews. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with as well as those he reached but never met. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the medical teams that worked so hard for Mike. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Monday, December 7, from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. A private family service will be held at Wellspring Community Church on Tuesday, December 8 at 1:30 pm. Due to Covid restrictions, the service will be available via livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsQKWZ1_r3k. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.