John Nykamp

John Nykamp liked his coffee, his sweets and his Detroit Tigers. When it came down to essentials, however, John’s life philosophy could be simplified to two main ideas: he loved the Lord and he loved his family. These things brought him his greatest joy, and he was blessed to be surrounded by a loving and supportive family throughout all the days of his life.

Proud parents John and Henrietta (Bulthuis) Nykamp welcomed John, their third and youngest child, into the world on July 12, 1933. The newest member of the Nykamp family was born right at home, where curious siblings Allyn and June also waited, impatient to meet their new brother. The Nykamps lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where John worked for Kalamazoo Laundry and Henrietta a school teacher.

The years went by, and soon it was time for John to go off to school. He was enrolled at Kalamazoo Christian School, which he attended until his junior year in high school. At this point, he transferred to Hopkins High School, where he completed his final year. John enjoyed playing basketball and football in high school. Quiet and modest, even though he usually rode the bench John was happy to be a part of the team. When he was a senior, John made the acquaintance of a junior named Dana. Their introduction was a little unusual – Dana shot a rubber band at him in the hallway on a dare – but the two soon became fast friends. John was invited to her seventeenth birthday party (the age when her father said she could begin dating), and from that point on John and Dana were a couple.

John graduated from Hopkins High School in 1950, at the age of sixteen. After graduation, John decided to serve his country by joining the Air Force. Although John had to leave Kalamazoo once he joined the service, he kept in touch with his high school sweetheart. Their romance progressed smoothly, and the couple planned to get married while John was on leave. There was a slight complication during the rehearsal dinner – John was late since he stopped for dinner instead of going straight to the church from the airport – but the wedding went without a hitch, and on June 4, 1954, John and Dana were united in marriage.

After the wedding, John and Dana moved to Mississippi, where John was stationed. After he completed his term in the Air Force, however, the couple moved back to Michigan. John found work as a vendor, working for several different companies throughout his life retiring from ARA. Over the years, John and Dana were blessed by the births of three children: Robert John, David Allyn, and Debra Marie. Patient and loving, quiet but firm when necessary, John was a wonderful father. He was crazy about his family, and never happier than when spending time at home with his wife and children. In many ways, John was the caregiver of the family. Dana had several back surgeries over the years, and John always took care of her himself, as well as managing the household. Typical of John’s easygoing and gentle nature, he never complained once.

John and Dana belonged to the congregation of Oak Grove Bible Church, and John was very active in church life. Over the years, he served as an elder and a deacon, and was always willing to lend a hand wherever it was needed. Blessed with a deep and trusting faith, John’s relationship with the Lord gave him great joy and comfort throughout his life.

As a younger man, John participated on a bowling league and a church softball team. John’s greatest passion throughout life was singing bass in various quartets. He started the family group known as the Gospel Lights where he sang with his wife Dana and son Rob and various close friends. When he was able to take time off from work, John enjoyed camping, especially family trips. The Nykamps were no fair-weather campers – once they camped for a whole summer!

After his retirement in 1992, John and Dana traveled in their motor home down to Florida where they met Canadians, Lois and Ollie. This soon developed into a great friendship where over the years they would winter in Florida together.

Loving, gentle and wise, John Nykamp was a caring husband, a dedicated father, a staunch Christian, and a loyal friend. His loss will be deeply mourned by his many friends and family members.

John passed away on March 1, 2012, at the age of seventy-eight. His family includes his wife of 57 years, Dana; his children, Robert (Becky) Nykamp, David (Julie) Nykamp and Deb (Daniel) Kiel; his grandchildren, Robert, Donald, Kimberly, Hillary, Bradley, Bryan, Gerrit, Justin, Jason, Nicole, Alyssa and Seth; his great-grandchildren, Chad, Taylor, Brook and Haley; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit with his family on Monday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 Woodhams St. (685-5881). A funeral service will be held on 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the Oak Grove Bible Church, 7655 Ravine Rd Kalamazoo, MI. Memorial donations can be made to the Reformed Heritage Christian School. Please visit John’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about his life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook before coming to funeral home.