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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
dykstra@lifestorynet.com
"Lord of our lives, our hope in death, we cannot listen to Taps without our souls stirring. Its plaintive notes are a prayer in music-of hope, of peace, of grief, of rest . . . Prepare us too, Lord, for our final bugle call when you summon us home! When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and death will be no more."
From the invocation delivered by Chaplin (Colonel) Edward Brogan (USAF, Ret.) at the Taps Exhibit Opening Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, 28 May 1999.
Of all the bugle calls, none is more familiar or unforgettable than the sound of Taps. Played slowly and softly it has a smooth, tender and touching character-24 notes of deep emotion. The same tender, touching character and deep emotion is found in one particular man who has played those 24 eloquent notes countless times and considered it an honor each and every time.
It was the burgemeester of Ommen in the Netherlands who said to Victor, "After church I want to show you where you're from". . . . and thus began the history of a life story that continued on to the new world, first in Overisel and now in Holland.
Vic's father, Julius Kleinheksel, had a shop in Overisel where he did horseshoeing, anvil work, sharpened plowshares, and sold Star automobiles when they first came out. He saw an opportunity to better himself and moved to downtown Holland to work for Mr. Dykstra at the funeral home on 9th St. to maintain the "fleet" of automobiles (a car and a funeral coach-one of the first in west Michigan). Julius liked the work, studied mortuary science and became a licensed funeral director. Eventually he bought the business and brought his three sons into it, too. Julius did the embalming, Vic and Carrow (who died in 1997) conducted funerals, and Randy did the bookkeeping. Ambulance work was a big part of the business when Vic started and along with his father and his brothers they provided that service to the community for years, and at no charge. Today they have three funeral home locations in addition to the original downtown chapel and the name Kleinheksel has become synonymous with Dykstra Funeral Homes.
Victor was the first of three sons of Julius and Serena Kleinheksel. He grew up right next door to the downtown funeral home. Home, church, school, and shopping were all within a block or two. As a boy, Victor walked through Centennial Park to get to school. Books, paper, and pencils weren't the only things he carried back and forth to school-his music teacher had him pack a cornet, too. Victor learned to play the cornet, and later the trumpet, when he was in fourth grade and he has played ever since. In high school he played in both band and orchestra and was part of a trumpet trio that won a 1st division rating from William D. Revelli two years in a row. To be awarded a 1st division rating from Mr. Revelli, who built the University of Michigan Band as we know it today, was unheard of. To win it two years in a row was thought to be impossible. It didn't hurt, though, that Victor's trumpet teacher, Everett Kissenger, played 1st chair trumpet at the U of M for four years.
After high school Vic went to Hope College and then Wayne State University for his Mortuary Science degree. Vic received his license to practice mortuary science in 1953 and was honored for 50 yrs. of dedication to funeral service by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association at their 2003 convention.
One of the many things Victor is known for is the playing of Taps at military funerals and ceremonies. He began playing Taps when he was in high school and continued doing so for 60 years whenever he was called upon. Victor was always willing and always did it gratis; to him it was a privilege. Vic has been a member of Holland's American Legion Band, the oldest American Legion Band in the country, for 54 years and in all that time has only missed marching in two Tulip Time parades.
As a young musician Victor often played for church services and other events. Whenever he needed an accompanist there was a beautiful young gal by the name of Dorothy Boss who played piano and was happy to accompany him. They met at First Reformed Church and soon found that they not only liked making music together but enjoyed each other's company as well. The romance led to love and marriage and to the building of a beautiful family. Vic and Dorothy have been blessed with three children, Con, Julie, and Craig, and ten wonderful grandchildren. First Reformed Church continues to be a big part of Vic and Dorothy's life today as Dorothy taught Sunday school for 40 years and Victor has served as a Deacon and Elder.
All the families Victor has served over the years and all his colleagues in funeral service know Victor's commitment to his work is special. It's special because it comes from deep inside his heart. He is devoted to funeral service, to helping people, and to seeing that every detail of every funeral is carried out to perfection. He knows each life is significant, needs to be honored, and deserves to be celebrated; that faith, hope, and love are handed down from generation to generation in the cherished recollections of a life story. Victor Kleinheksel's dedication to funeral service is the same as his dedication to those 24 eloquent notes of Taps-his work and the notes will stop someday, but the echo of both will remain forever.
From the invocation delivered by Chaplin (Colonel) Edward Brogan (USAF, Ret.) at the Taps Exhibit Opening Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, 28 May 1999.
Of all the bugle calls, none is more familiar or unforgettable than the sound of Taps. Played slowly and softly it has a smooth, tender and touching character-24 notes of deep emotion. The same tender, touching character and deep emotion is found in one particular man who has played those 24 eloquent notes countless times and considered it an honor each and every time.
It was the burgemeester of Ommen in the Netherlands who said to Victor, "After church I want to show you where you're from". . . . and thus began the history of a life story that continued on to the new world, first in Overisel and now in Holland.
Vic's father, Julius Kleinheksel, had a shop in Overisel where he did horseshoeing, anvil work, sharpened plowshares, and sold Star automobiles when they first came out. He saw an opportunity to better himself and moved to downtown Holland to work for Mr. Dykstra at the funeral home on 9th St. to maintain the "fleet" of automobiles (a car and a funeral coach-one of the first in west Michigan). Julius liked the work, studied mortuary science and became a licensed funeral director. Eventually he bought the business and brought his three sons into it, too. Julius did the embalming, Vic and Carrow (who died in 1997) conducted funerals, and Randy did the bookkeeping. Ambulance work was a big part of the business when Vic started and along with his father and his brothers they provided that service to the community for years, and at no charge. Today they have three funeral home locations in addition to the original downtown chapel and the name Kleinheksel has become synonymous with Dykstra Funeral Homes.
Victor was the first of three sons of Julius and Serena Kleinheksel. He grew up right next door to the downtown funeral home. Home, church, school, and shopping were all within a block or two. As a boy, Victor walked through Centennial Park to get to school. Books, paper, and pencils weren't the only things he carried back and forth to school-his music teacher had him pack a cornet, too. Victor learned to play the cornet, and later the trumpet, when he was in fourth grade and he has played ever since. In high school he played in both band and orchestra and was part of a trumpet trio that won a 1st division rating from William D. Revelli two years in a row. To be awarded a 1st division rating from Mr. Revelli, who built the University of Michigan Band as we know it today, was unheard of. To win it two years in a row was thought to be impossible. It didn't hurt, though, that Victor's trumpet teacher, Everett Kissenger, played 1st chair trumpet at the U of M for four years.
After high school Vic went to Hope College and then Wayne State University for his Mortuary Science degree. Vic received his license to practice mortuary science in 1953 and was honored for 50 yrs. of dedication to funeral service by the Michigan Funeral Directors Association at their 2003 convention.
One of the many things Victor is known for is the playing of Taps at military funerals and ceremonies. He began playing Taps when he was in high school and continued doing so for 60 years whenever he was called upon. Victor was always willing and always did it gratis; to him it was a privilege. Vic has been a member of Holland's American Legion Band, the oldest American Legion Band in the country, for 54 years and in all that time has only missed marching in two Tulip Time parades.
As a young musician Victor often played for church services and other events. Whenever he needed an accompanist there was a beautiful young gal by the name of Dorothy Boss who played piano and was happy to accompany him. They met at First Reformed Church and soon found that they not only liked making music together but enjoyed each other's company as well. The romance led to love and marriage and to the building of a beautiful family. Vic and Dorothy have been blessed with three children, Con, Julie, and Craig, and ten wonderful grandchildren. First Reformed Church continues to be a big part of Vic and Dorothy's life today as Dorothy taught Sunday school for 40 years and Victor has served as a Deacon and Elder.
All the families Victor has served over the years and all his colleagues in funeral service know Victor's commitment to his work is special. It's special because it comes from deep inside his heart. He is devoted to funeral service, to helping people, and to seeing that every detail of every funeral is carried out to perfection. He knows each life is significant, needs to be honored, and deserves to be celebrated; that faith, hope, and love are handed down from generation to generation in the cherished recollections of a life story. Victor Kleinheksel's dedication to funeral service is the same as his dedication to those 24 eloquent notes of Taps-his work and the notes will stop someday, but the echo of both will remain forever.
