Earl Dean Tompkins' Obituary
Mr. Earl Tompkins, age 87, passed into the presence of the Lord, whom he loved on November 4, 2022. He was born to Otto and Eva Tompkins, at 711 Pine Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on January 18, 1935. He graduated from Soo High School in 1953 and had many jobs too numerous to mention. That’s when jobs were plentiful.
Earl married Loretta Bourque on December 27, 1958, in the “Soo” and for the honeymoon traveled to South Carolina where he would be stationed at Fort Jackson and where their first child, Dave, was born. Later, Earl was shipped to Korea for a year while Loretta moved back to the Soo. The next move for Earl and Loretta was when they moved to Grand Haven, Michigan in March 1961, where he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers until retirement in February 1990. After retiring from the Corps of Engineers, he worked for Lake Michigan Marine Contractors and also developed a subdivision in Egleston Township. He found most of his jobs enjoyable, interesting, and challenging with his underlying strength being his abiding faith in Jesus Christ.
Earl and Loretta would often enjoy “get away” trips (often to Florida) together and with the kids when they were still home. Earl enjoyed the serenity of the great outdoors, including hunting and fishing, and the God who created it all. He attended the Grand Haven Gospel Chapel for several decades where he enjoyed the fellowship of believers there.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mona Lou Dodds; brother, Vern Tompkins; and son, David E. Tompkins. Surviving is his loving wife, Loretta; son, Paul (Brenda) Tompkins; daughters, Patricia (Norm) Kaminski and Elizabeth (Alan) Lound; daughter-in-law, Sue Tompkins; brother, Glen (Ethel) Tompkins; 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 11 am at The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417. VISITATION with the family will be held one hour prior to the service. Share memories with the family and sign the online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.
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