Leonard Schaafsma

We are only given so many years on this earth and no matter how many possessions or how much money we leave behind, our legacy is determined by our character and the way we lived. Leonard Schaafsma’s legacy is founded in kindness, generosity, and love for his family. He fulfilled many roles in his lifetime - a loving and devoted husband to his wife Jennie, an attentive and caring father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren, and a provider for his family. Above all else, Leonard knew that his primary role was as a child of God and that his life on earth would not last forever. With that in mind he filled all of his days with the things that brought him the most joy, devoting everything to his faith and his family.

In the year 1914, while other parts of the world were embroiled in “The Great War”, The United States was still pursuing its policy of isolationism. But isolation from the war did not mean isolation from everything. People were enjoying songs like “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and those who had $550 were driving around in the new Model-T touring cars. With steak costing 25 cents a pound and a loaf of bread just 6 cents, life was good, especially in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Grand Rapids was the home of Marinus and Martha (Daterna) Schaafsma and their two boys. On November 11, 1914, Marinus and Martha welcomed a third son they named Leonard. When son number four was born, the Schaafsma family was complete. Leonard and his brothers Marvin, Donald and Robert were part of a close-knit family growing up and going to school on the West Side of Grand Rapids. Faith was an important part of the family’s life and together they attended Alpine Avenue Christian Church.

The Model-T had been part of our culture for a few years, and at the age of 13, Leonard got his first car - a Model-T. He loved it and loved taking care of it. From then on, he was hooked on cars and never owned a new model. It was much more fun to have one he could work on and make run just the way he wanted. Makes and models may have changed through the years, but Leonard’s ideal never did. He refused to own a front-wheel drive, which somewhat limited his choices later in life.

By the time Leonard reached the 10th grade, the Great Depression had a firm grip on the country and, like many young people, he left school to find a job. He was one of the fortunate ones and found a job working for General Motors for 50 cents an hour. Leonard had already developed a mind of his own - he could be very opinionated, and often shared such opinions – whether you asked for them or not. In his mind, there was just one way to do things – his way. One day at work, he and a co-worker got into a scuffle over the co-worker’s tobacco habit and both men lost their jobs. But Leonard stayed true to his beliefs.

Fortunately, his grandfather had started a heating and cooling business years earlier, which his father now ran. Leonard began working for his father, and spent several years gaining as much knowledge as he could about the heating and cooling business. But again, he had his own way of doing things, and, not liking to be told what to do by others, started his own business – Leonard Schaafsma Heating and Cooling. This was the perfect arrangement and he successfully ran his business until his retirement at the age of 62. Even after retiring, friends and former customers would still call upon his knowledge and skill and Leonard never said no.

During this time, he met a lovely young lady named Jennie and they were married on October 13, 1939. For many years they made their home on Crosby, NW, raising their two adopted children, Leonard and Karen. They were a happy family and enjoyed visiting Leonard’s family on Camp Lake, located in Kent County. Although he could be a bit gruff on the outside, on the inside Leonard was a warm and loving father who loved kids and took great joy in spending time with his family. When his kids were young, he started dressing up as Santa Claus at Christmas time. He enjoyed it so much that he continued this tradition through the years, sharing his ”Christmas spirit” with neighborhood churches and schools. It was always a favorite time of year for him.

As hard a worker as he was, Leonard always had time for his hobbies and some relaxation. He was quite the photographer and developed his own films and slides in the darkroom he built in the basement. He had been a long-time ham radio operator, starting when the kids was little, using the call letters W8SPX. The roof and yard were dotted with antennas, allowing him to talk to people all over the world. He even had a handheld radio, making calls from his car, long before cell phones came into being. Leonard had always been good at fixing things, and he took great pleasure in being able to care for the things he loved – including his family. This also gave him the opportunity to share his skills with friends and family in need. When it came to food, well, like his opinions, Leonard was unique. He loved pickled herring and buttermilk. Always a coffee drinker, he would meet with “the guys” at Sandy’s for some delicious baked goods, a hot cup of coffee, and the chance to solve the world’s problems.

After retirement, Leonard and Jennie spent the winter months in their motor home in Florida. They were part of a motor club that traveled around the country and the two of them had great fun, but they always had time for their grandchildren. Leonard loved to watch them play. When Jennie died in 1991, it was a very difficult time for Leonard and he had to make many adjustments to his way of life. He had always done the grocery shopping and the driving but not the cooking, laundry or cleaning. He learned to cook and do the laundry but cleaning was something he never seemed to have much time for. As messy as things might have looked – he was a saver, claiming he might have a use for it in the future - Leonard often stated he knew where everything was.

Faith had always been an important part of Leonard’s life, and as the years went by, this faith continued to sustain him. He was not shy about sharing his faith, and if you knew Leonard, you knew his beliefs.

The last few years were softened by his friendship with his dear friend, Kitty Nagelkerk, who passed away in 2009. Recently, with his wife and dear friend already in heaven, Leonard often mentioned that he was ready for that final journey. He was looking forward to being with his Lord and Savior and knew that his passing would be a time of rejoicing, not a time of sorrow.

Mr. Leonard M. Schaafsma, age 95 of Grand Rapids, went home to be with his Lord on July 12, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jennie; and by his companion Kitty Nagelkerk. Leonard is survived by his children Leonard and Mary Schaafsma, Karen and Richard Dykstra; grandchildren Scott (Tanya) Schaafsma, Kelly Schaafsma, Machele Dykstra, Chad Dykstra and Jessica Dykstra; his great grandson, Andrew Dykstra; sister-in-law Doris (Vern) Parmeter; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with his family on Wednesday from 7-9 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van’t Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard NW and on Thursday at Church for one hour prior to the service. A service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, July 15 at 1 PM at Westend Christian Reformed Church, 1015 Westend NW. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. For those who wish, memorial contributions to a hospice of your choice are appreciated. To share a favorite memory or to sign the online register, please visit Leonard’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com.