Dearest Jim and Pat,

 Please accept our deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved father.  Although we only had a few encounters and the privilege of meeting him on those few occasions it was an honor. We have only heard the highest praise of his fine character.  Through the tales you have shared with us.

 There is no doubt that his passing will be a great loss to all who knew him.  Your children will continue to share the stories for the next generations to come.

  Sincerely, Janet and Reuben

Thanks John I could not describe Dad any better than you have.

Jeff

My Dad was my oldest friend and the oldest person I’ve ever known.  He was nearly 98 years old.  His life reached back to events that are so impossibly distant now:  The roaring 20’s, the depression, WWII, the discovery of radio, antibiotics, the universe beyond the Milky Way.  There are so many questions about the past that I still want to ask him.  He experienced the joy, the wonder and the horror of these things. 

I loved his kindness and patience.  Even the simplest skills I learned from him were taught with that warmth:  How to tie my shoe, how to bait a fishing hook, how to fix things.  

He inspired me with his tireless love of travel.  Our family drove coast to coast again and again in the family ’62 station wagon.  We learned history and nature and the American lifestyle together on the road.  He loved my endless questions about why things were the way they were.

I admired his “pitch in and help, pitch in and lead” nature.  He was positive and cheerful about life and excelled at the art of “getting along with people,” even really difficult people.  I admired that too.

Mostly, I loved him because he always told me I was special, I was gifted, I would be so successful.  A little boy believes those things and it becomes the drum beat of his life.

Good bye Dad, you weren’t immortal after all but you were a rock and an anchor for me when it mattered the most and you were always my kindest friend.

Your son John

Jim and Patty & family,
Our deepest sympathies to you on the loss of your dad.  What a long, full life he had.  May he rest in peace.
He was always friendly & outgoing.  I always had nice visits with him.
Sincerely w/love,
John & Kathy Pruis

Cook Funeral Home & Cremation Services — Grandville Chapel

Jack Vander Hoek

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

Jack Elmer Vander Hoek

July 11, 1922 – June 1, 2020

Cook Funeral and Cremation Services

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services