Jack Stryd

Stryd, Jack T Of Portage, MI Jack Thomas Stryd, age 81, passed away peacefully April 4, 2020 at Medilodge of Portage, MI. Jack was born on February 28, 1939 in Kalamazoo, MI, to Abraham and Cornelia (Katie Luteyn) Stryd. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1957. Jack spent two years serving in the United States Army and participated in Operation Big Lift for three weeks in Germany. He has been a resident of the Kalamazoo area his entire life and was employed by The Upjohn Company for 36 years, retiring in 1992. He was a very kind, soft-spoken person, loved by all of his family and friends. Jack had a wonderful sense of humor and was the proverbial story teller. Whenever he was seen by his nieces or nephews he was usually asked for a story. You could count on him to help you out whenever there was a need. He built a 12x40' model railroad in his basement which could run five engines at one time and run by the computer program which he built. Jack also had a yard filled with flowers which he kept in pristine condition. When not busy with his train or a landscape project he also enjoyed oil painting. Traveling provided many hours of enjoyment having visited every state, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, Alaska, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tahiti. He leaves behind his loving wife, the former Anna van't Zelfde, whom he married in 1965; brothers: Tom (Nancy) Stryd and Ron (Sharon) Stryd, both of Kalamazoo, MI; sisters-in-law: Christine (Roger, deceased) Locke of Cassopolis, MI, Jacqueline (Dennis, deceased) van't Zelfde of Grand Rapids, MI and Linda (Paul) DeVries of Kalamazoo, MI; many nieces, nephews and friends. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Dennis van't Zelfde. Private graveside services where held in Hope Cemetery, Texas Township. Due to Covid-19 concerns, a memorial visitation and service to celebrate Jack's life will be held at a later date and place to be announced. Memorials in Jack's memory may be directed to West Michigan Cancer Center, or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Please visit Jack's personalized web page to sign his online guest book, and to leave a message or condolence for his family at: https://www.langelands.com