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1929 Bert 2014

Bert DeGraaf

August 6, 1929 — March 3, 2014

Gijsbertus "Bert" DeGraaf of Kalamazoo, Passed away surrounded by his family to be with his Lord and savior on March 3, 2014 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Bert was born August 6, 1929 in Decatur, MI, the son of Cornelius and Steventje (VanderHoek) Degraaf. He was the youngest of eleven. Bert was a member of the Second Christian Reformed Church, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, wood working, traveling and most of all, spending time with his family. Bert was an extremely loving man and was a great example of the importance of finding happiness in the simple things in life. He loved working with wood and spent many hours in his shop creating wooden masterpieces. He was a Korean War Veteran serving in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 as a Corporal Army engineer. Shortly after returning he married Alberta Reagan. They had six children together. It was at this time he became a union carpenter and remained in that trade until he retired. Bert was married in 1976 to Eleanor Koenis who preceded him in death in June of 2011. He was also preceded in death by his son David and ten brothers and sisters. He is Survived by five childen, Shelly Chu, Lori DeGraaf, Mary Buck, Bert DeGraaf, and Beth DeGraaf; step-daughter, Karen Lehl; Nine grandchildren, Ashley, Sarrah, Zachery, Alec, Scott, Shaun, Lynsey, Morgan, Alyssa; one great grandson, Aiden. Funeral services were held Thursday March 6, 2014 at the Parchment Redmond Funeral Home, 2300 East "G" Ave. Parchment, MI 49004, (269) 349-7735. Interment was in Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Rose Arbor Hospice. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net
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