John and I went to high school together. He was a gentle giant.  Reading the comments from his students, he impacted so many lives throughout his teaching and coaching career.  He had the ability to bring out the best in his students and players. He certainly was a man who used his God given gifts well.  As you mourn a very loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, may God wrap His arms around you at this time.  Thinking of all of you.  
Terry (Hop-Burrill) Zandbergen
Class of 64

John was my best friend for many years.  Wyoming Park High School,  Grand Valley State College.  Summer jobs, studying all night long, fishing and more fishing, traveling to Washington DC, traveling to California with visit to Mexico.  We did so much together.  Our first houses were a block apart.  Our second houses were across the street from each other.  I shared so much of my life with John and he shared with me.  He had a wonderful family with Judy and the kids.  Though our families moved on eventually, I never stopped thinking of the great times we had together. I have thought of and missed John on many days but hope I can renew our friendship some day in a better place.  Thank you Judy for allowing me the time to spend with your wonderful husband.  

Very sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family. 

Sorry to learn of the loss of John. Wishing God's peace for John and the family. Prayers coming your way. Chuck Bocskey


To the family and friends of John Tuffs:
I am so sorry for your loss.  Also, please let it be known that JT was a legend at Wyoming Park HS.   Everyone at our school lucky enough to get to know him has some type of story to tell about him.   He brought many smiles to our faces over the years.   Those memories still carry on in our hearts and minds as I know they will with you.  
JT made an impact and will not be forgotten.
     

Deepest sympathy! Tuffs was the best! I wrestled for him and was a student in his class. I am speechless! A great man gone. I am so sorry!

John was a wonderful classmate of mine. He was such a kind soul and didn't let polio,that he contracted as a young child, stop him. It was wonderful that he continued to touch so many lives as a teacher. RIP dear friend.  Pam Velders McLenithan   Class of 64.

So sorry for your loss. I had Mr Tuffs in 8th grade.   I was lost and was struggling at school.   I had been part of the Plan program and was falling behind.  He encouraged me to go out for wrestling and to drop out of Plan and go back to traditional class.  I was a 100lb and horrible at wrestling but it was great to be part of a team.  Within a couple months of changing to traditional class I was catching up at school and had more self confidence.  I will always be great full for his guidance. 

A gentle giant of a man. He was so kind, made junior high that much easier for  a gawky teenager navigating through life. I am so sorry for your loss. 

The “Burr” family would like to express our condolences to the “Tuffs” family. John exhibited great dedication and leadership on and off the mat for our 3 sons and many other young men.

Coach Tuffs was fantastic. I'll never forget him laughing so hard at a weigh in one night after practice.  Someone was razzin me and he thought it was the funniest thing. I never heard him laugh that hard. He was always in our corner and that was a 100%. A great educator, coach, role model, and friend was lost. No one could ever fill his shoes. Tuffers has finally got off the bike and can rest now looking down on all his athletes, students, friends, and family. My prayers are with his family.

My thoughts and prayers to Mr Tuff’s  family .  He was such a great teacher , coach and man. As a shy 7th grade skinny kid joining the wrestling team was a little intimidating. However, I quickly fell in love with the sport thanks to Mr Tuffs quiet gentle demeanor. He taught me to respect my opponent and sportsmanship was very important to him. I soon had great confidence and learned perseverance and hard work.  He coached wrestling but also life lessons.  I always respected what he 
taught me. I know he will be deeply 
missed by his family and everyone that knew him. May God bless him and comfort his family at this time of loss .
 

Sorry for your loss. I remember him when I was at  WPHS 30 years ago! Enjoy the big wrestling mat in the heavens ❤️ 🙏 u sure will be missed here! 

You will be missed Mr.Tuffers always showed tough love! Thank you. Enjoy your time with my parents in Heaven, til we meet again and so long for now Coach.

JT. What can I say to add value to this great man’s memory? First, let me say how sorry I am for the loss to your family, and the one he built at Wyoming Park for so many years. 
John Tuffs entered into my life at a time when I was vulnerable having just lost my own father entering into high school. I was angry, afraid, and JT saw me for who I really was. Mentored, encouraged me, and unknowingly became a hugely important and influential male role model and “father figure” I truly have him to thank for many of the ways he taught me about life, wrestling, and instilled the tools for success life to countless individuals. Thank you John Tuffs! 


Mr. Tuff was a great Teacher help me when I had trouble of understanding my subjects at Wyoming Park HS. Very patience with me. I appreciate that I had him as a teacher 2004-2008 Sending my condolences to his family. 

To the family of John Tuffs , words can’t express how sorry I am to hear the news of Mr.Tuffs passing. Your loved one holds a special place in my family’s heart as our history of him first as my Mother’s teacher in 1984 and then mine from 99 to 2003 . My freshmen year my mother explained that as a young pregnant teen Mr Tuffs was her favorite teacher as she was pregnant with twins and had bad morning sickness she said the minute she walked into his class he handed her the hall pass so if she had to she could leave without interrupting the lesson. When I and my Twin had him second hour he would always crack jokes and ask about my mom and one point freshmen year got between the two of us when things between my brother and I were going to get physical.



JT left a great memories when I was in the 7th grade, I was a very small student that only weighed 54 lbs. and Mr. Tuffs came up to me and asked me to join the wrestling team because they needed someone to wrestle 63 lbs. weight class.  During the year he taught me how to wrestle and many life lessons.  He told me size doesn't matter and you can do it if you try.  When I worked with him at Wyoming Park he used to listen to me test the microphone while the wrestlers practiced and used upper balcony, he would yell "be quiet" so one time I sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" in my deep base interpretation and he just  didn't know how to react and all the wrestlers stopped practice and it was the first time you could hear him laugh and say "You got me on that one and I don't know what to say" It was such a joy talking to him and I think of him all the time and the great memories he has given me and many others and the many students he'd helped through the years while working for Wyoming Public School.  I'm proud to have called him Coach, JT, and Friend.

So sad to hear the passing of John Tuffs, JT. I got to know JT at Wyoming Park HS and spent several years team teaching Biology with him. JT was a man of few words but had a great sense of humor and worked hard to help all students.  The Wyoming community lost a great ambassador. Rest easy, JT. 

Dear Tuffs Family, our deepest condolences for the loss of John, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with him for several years at Wyoming Park.   I called him the gentle giant as he stood in the hallway between classes as students who didn't know him would be a bit intimidated.  Those who knew him would always stop and talk to him.   His love for educating students and especially at Wyoming Park will be remembered forever.    He was a great mentor and friend, and we all have such fond memories.   

Mr Tuffs was a great friend and coach for my years at Park.  “Walk in like you own the place” is the one piece of advice I still use every day!
We always had some big Laughs.

 My condolences to his family.


My thoughts and prayers, Mrs. Tuffs and family, for your lose.  Tuffers was a wrestling coach to so many young men at The Park for many years.  I’m proud to say he was my coach with Mr. Barnes during my high school career.  I then had the privilege to coach with Tuffers for fifteen years.  We shared so many successes, laughs and great conversations during that time.  He was a great friend to me and many others.  He’ll always be remembered by wrestlers as Tuffers and the gentle giant with the big heart for others…and who will ever forget those striped tee shirts he wore at practices every day.  Even after we jumped him during a practice and tore it off.  He showed up the next day with the same striped tee!  Thank you Mrs. Tuffs for making those tees for him and sharing coach Tuffers to so many wrestlers, colleagues and friends.  

Tuff's family,

John (JT) was a wonderful man. He was a teacher and coach while I was a student at Wyoming Park High School and then we were colleagues when I joined WPS as an educator. I have fond memories of him. He cared deeply for his students, athletes, and his colleagues. He was humble and wise and a great mentor for young teachers and coaches. We talked often during afternoon workouts and then later after his retirement during morning workouts. 

So sorry for your loss Tuffs family. John was a coworker of mine at Wyoming Park (and fellow Jenison resident). His sense of humor, gardening tips, and early parenting advice will be my memories of him.  School wasn't the same after he retired. ❤️

So sorry to hear of JTs passing. He is a Wyoming Park legend and is thought of and spoken of often and fondly. I taught and coached with Jon for many years and, before that, I was a student at The Park when he was teaching as well. We would pick up Mr Tuffs to scout for Coach VerDuin many times in the Fall. He knew so much of the history of our community that he would share. We all hope the family knows his contribution to generations of kids and to The Park. 
Thom Vander Klay, 
Current Teacher/Coach WPS
WPHS Class of '82

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John C. Tuffs

16 octobre 1946 – 20 février 2023

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