Jerry Groot

Through the life of Gerald Groot it is easy to see what it means to be the hands and feet of God. He was a fun-loving kid at heart who often reminded his loved ones that, “Life is what you make of it.” Jerry’s greatest joy was found in spending time with his family, and his devotion to his wife and children was unmatched. With a personal faith as his constant companion, his life was deeply rooted in the beliefs that were engraved upon his heart. Jerry will be dearly missed while his memory will be forever cherished by those too numerous to count.

Sometimes referred to as the Nifty Fifties, it was during the 1950s that the cultural fabric of America was shaped by our introduction to rock ‘n roll, television shows like I Love Lucy, and Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her seat on an Alabama bus. It was during this colorful time that a young family from Grand Rapids, Michigan, welcomed a baby boy into their lives on May 2, 1956. Gerald W. was the fourth of five children and the only son born to his parents, George and Eleanor (Kuiper) Groot. Growing up in the family home on the south side of Grand Rapids alongside his sisters, Joyce, Barb, Marilou and Connie, he was raised in the Christian faith. The Groots were members of Millbrook Christian Reformed Church where he went to youth group and learned both the catechism and the fundamentals of Christianity.

For the most part Jerry experienced an upbringing that reflected the times. He was a student at Millbrook Christian School and then went on to South Christian High School graduating with the class of 1974. Jerry’s father was a second generation piano tuner, and Jerry was just 12 when he began accompanying his father, learning to tune pianos and pipe organs. As a high school student he took meticulous care of his black Olds 442, which he drove while listening to the 8 track with Elvis Presly songs. He had a large black watchband that matched his car that to this day is still in storage and unworn.

Life was forever changed for Jerry when his parents rented a cottage on Lake Manistee from Frank and Edith Archer. While there he loved having all kinds of fun on the water and was always open to anyone who challenged him to a boat race. However, it was his introduction to the Archer’s daughter, Cozette, that was the highlight of their family vacation. Jerry and Co, as she was known, developed a friendship that later blossomed into true love. She was just 16 when they met and Jerry only 20, but she was the only girl he ever dated. After two years of dating the couple was married on March 10, 1979, while Co was still in high school.

The newlyweds experienced a fun-filled honeymoon in Florida, which was all the more memorable due to some sunburn, and returned to Grand Rapids. The young couple settled into an apartment in Swiss Valley Apartments. When their rent dramatically increased, Jerry and Co began renting a home on Paris SW. Not only was the home more affordable, it also had more room including a one stall garage where Jerry could work on pianos. In 1980 they purchased a house on Aberdeen NE, which was in such dire need of repair that his father said it should have been condemned rather than purchased!

Over the following seven years, Jerry and Co worked at remodeling the house, doing much of the work themselves. Jerry was forever grateful for the help of his father-in-law, Frank Archer. By 1987, it was a completely new home as nearly everything was replaced. They continued to live there until with their young family until 1994 when moved to their home on Kearney N.E.

While living on Aberdeen, Jerry and Co started their family that grew to include two boys, Jerry in 1987 and Joseph in 1990. They raised their boys at the Aberdeen house and later at house on Kearney NE that Jerry called home for the rest of his life. They also welcomed and hosted exchange students from Japan, Germany and Hong Kong which added to the excitement of family life. They became daughters and sisters to the family who continue to stay in contact with Jerry and Co.

To support his family Jerry worked as a piano tuner using the skills he learned from his father. He was so proud that his family had been servicing Calvin College since 1926. Jerry and his Dad George, operated the business with honesty, integrity, and quality for the rest of Jerry’s life. In fact, the last piano Jerry tuned was for Calvin College just this past February. He was also a member of the Piano Technicians Guild and the Master Piano Technicians.

Throughout his life Jerry’s faith was a cornerstone. He and his family became members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parnell. Jerry called this his church home for the remainder of his journey.

Jerry loved to travel, and he and Co traveled all over through the years. They camped and stayed in numerous hotels as the years went by. They visited many islands off the coast of California, traveled to Mexico and Catalina Island, and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean including to St. Thomas, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Coco Kay among several other destinations in that region when they would spend time with Jerry's parents who spent winters in Florida. Jerry and Co also visited Canada a few times as well as Japan and Germany. Many of their vacations satiated his love for the water and activities like boating, fishing, kayaking, and swimming.

A man who felt abundantly blessed to spend his life with “the greatest thing that ever happened to him,” Gerald Groot treasured the family they created together more than anything on this side of heaven. He was a fun-loving man whose spirit of compassion, integrity, and unwavering faith will remain alive through the legacy of the children who follow him.

GROOT – Gerald W. Groot, aged 56 of Plainfield Twp. Passed away Wednesday April 3, 2013 and went to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Eleanor (Kuiper) Groot, his step mother Pat (Wilson) Groot, his sister Connie Scherpenisse and his parents-in-law Frank and Edith Archer. Gerald is survived by his wife, of 34 years, Cozette (Archer) , his children: Jerry Groot, Joseph and Ashleigh Groot, his exchange student daughters: Tomoe (Nippon), Melanie (Deutschland), Cynthia Shu (Hong Kong), his sisters and brothers-in-law: Joyce and James Oostdyk, Barb and Brian Smits, Marilou and Ray Cygan, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Debbie Scherpenisse, step brothers and step sister Robert and Nancy Wilson and Steve Wilson, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Dan and Jackie Archer, Bill and Mary Archer, Pam Archer, Renee and Mike Wade and nieces and nephews. Jerry was a third generation piano technician of the Groot family who started tuning pianos and organs at the age of 12. Gerald was a great Shepard of God and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house for over 10 years as a shuttle driver. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Monday at 11 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Parnell, with interment in Fairplains Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family Saturday from 7-9 P.M. and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien – Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. where a bible vigil service will be held Sunday evening at 8 P.M. Memorial contributions to We Do Care, a fund helping families with hospitalized children with cancer. To read more of Jerry’s life, share a memory or sign the online register book please visit www.lifestorynet.com