Fred Jepkema

Passed away Saturday, September 26, 2026 with his family by his side. Fred was born on September 26, 1933, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late Fred and Gertrude Jepkema. The oldest of seven children, Fred had many fond memories of growing up in a family full of love and Christian values. Living on Princeton Street, he joked that he got his education at Princeton when anyone asked. At age eighteen, he started a job at Allied Paper (SCM) in Kalamazoo as a mail boy. At age twenty, Fred was drafted into the army and spent two years on the US west coast engaged in training and finding ways to travel home to visit family. These travels inspired many of his entertaining stories about his young life.

When Fred returned from his time in the service, he returned to Allied Paper and worked his way up to being an accountant for the company. At age 26, he met and married Joan VanLandegent who would be his wife for 65 years until her passing in 2025. Fred loved to spoil her! She said she had to be careful not to mention every little thing she wanted because he'd go out and get it for her as soon as he could. Fred and Joan raised 4 children together, 3 boys and 1 girl. They lived on Crooked Lake in Kalamazoo and had countless fun times swimming, boating and water skiing in the summer. On September 26, every year, Fred would celebrate his birthday with a lap or two around the lake on a water ski. He could take off from the dock and land on shore without ever getting wet!

Fred enjoyed working with his hands and building things. With the help of two of his brothers and one brother-in-law, he was able to make a 2-bedroom lake cottage into a 3-story family home. The brothers also helped him build his dream garage: a big red barn with a loft. As he and Joan aged, that big lake house was too big and they moved across town to Weatherstone Village where they enjoyed an attached garage and single-story living, and met great neighbors that became friends over the years. Their youngest son, Steve, gave Joan the gift of a Maltipoo puppy who quickly became a member of the family and "Queen of the Village" Fred would say. After Joan's passing in 2025, that good dog, Maggie, became a constant companion for him and he loved having her by his side and in his lap.

Fred was a positive-natured and joyful person. He was known for saying "there's a good side and a bad side to everything; look at the good side!" He liked to tell jokes and good stories. Fred valued family above all else and he enjoyed spending time with his children, brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews right up until his last day. He brought joy to so many people throughout his 93 years and that joy lives on in all of us who knew him.

Surviving Fred are his children, Daniel Jepkema, Steven Jepkema, and Pamela (Hal) Navarre. He was preceded in passing by his wife, parents, son, Michael Jepkema, brothers, James and Martin Jepkema, and sister, Evelyn Knibbe.

Friends are welcome to join the family for visitation on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 12 pm to 1 pm at Langeland Family Funeral Home, 622 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. A funeral service will take place immediately following visitation at 1 pm, with a graveside service at Mt Ever Rest Memorial Park, South, 3941 South Westnedge Ave., to follow.

To view Fred's personalized guestbook, please visit https://www.langelands.com