John Dirk Nordyke

In the early morning hours of Friday, April 17, 2026, John Dirk Nordyke, aged 71, left us to be with the Lord. He was born to Neal Nordyke and Babs (Nordyke) Croft on October 11, 1954, at their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

John was a talented, introspective person who showed technological giftedness from a young age. During high school, he honed his skills with additional tech training. He remembered his job at Lear Siegler fondly and was recognized for a diagnostic he created. However, as time went on, the challenges proved mentally and emotionally debilitating. With the support of his wife "DJ," he recovered and used a variety of his skills to remain gainfully employed. An aneurysm was an insurmountable obstacle. Although his survival was nothing short of miraculous, he fought against the resulting deficits the remainder of his life.

John was preceded in death by his father, Neal; mother, Babs; brother, Marty; beloved wife, Darlena Jean Nordyke (neé Sperry); and brother-in-law, Val Pierson.

He is survived by his siblings Connie, Joyce, Casey (Rena), Michelle (Val, deceased), Tim, and Dan, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date to honor John's life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to a mental health charity of your choice, in recognition of the challenges John faced and overcame.

The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their online guestbook.