John D. Bakale's Obituary
Mr. John D. Bakale, age 80, of West Olive passed away Monday, April 11, 2011 at home. He was born February 3, 1931 in West Olive to Ivan and Luba Bakale.
John worked hard his entire life on the family farm. He started driving gravel trucks at age 14 for Ralph Meyers Trucking and also did house excavation, running dozer and big equipment for Bakale and Kossuth Company. John started in the Christmas tree business before joining the US Army and serving in the Korean War. In 1965 he worked hard to build his company into Northland Evergreens Inc. a large wholesale nursery. He sold the business in 1988 and kept his Christmas tree business until retirement. He was a founding member of the West Michigan Marketing Co-op. John served as a member of the NOCH Board and volunteered as a Big Brother in the Big Brother Program.
John considered his greatest accomplishment his family and his service to his Savior and Heavenly Father by giving to and helping churches and those in need – too numerous to count.
On January 25, 1960 he married Myrtle Jean Bosch in Zeeland, MI and she survives him along with 3 children: John (Rebecca) Bakale, Tom (Mari Jo) Bakale and Ann Marie (David) Marsman; grand children: John David (Stephanie) Bakale III, Heather (Justin) Ulberg, Nicole Jean Bakale, Amanda (Brian) Bork, Sara Bakale, Rachel (fiancé, Tyler Eckard) Bakale, Grace Ann Marsman; 2 great-grandsons: Bentley Bakale, Rowyn Ulberg; brother, Matthew (Betty) Bakale; sister, Carolyn (Ruben) Sturkol, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Lindsey Ann on Oct. 31, 1999; sisters, Dorothy, Helen, Kate and Ann; brothers, George, Joe and Paul.
Services for John will be held 11:00 AM Friday at Grand Haven Community Baptist Church with Rev. Ray Paget officiating. Visitation with the family will be 5-8 PM Thursday at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven. Interment will take place in Lake Forest Cemetery. Memorial Contributions in honor of John may be given to Camp Geneva. Please sign the family’s online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
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