Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.

James M. Hoogerhyde

March 1, 1925 - November 5, 2018
Kent City, Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Friday, November 9, 2018
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Humane Society of West Michigan
3077 Wilson Dr. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Hardworking and strong, James Hoogerhyde made the most of every day he was given and will be deeply missed.

It was during the vibrant days of the Roaring Twenties that Fred J. and Kate (Lukaart) Hoogerhyde were blessed with the birth of the baby boy they named James Marvin on March 1, 1925, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father ran both an auto garage and Safe and Lock at 1033 West Leonard Street in Grand Rapids while his mother was a homemaker. Joined in his family by his older brother, Howard, Jim loved tinkering with cars and was often at his dad’s garage. He later worked there. Jim attended the local elementary school through the ninth grade.

Jim met Dorothy VanGemert while in elementary school, and they dated as teens. As a young man he joined the United States Navy during WWII, and he also married his sweetheart in 1943 in Reno, Nevada. Once Jim was discharged, the couple returned to Grand Rapids and bought a home on the WestSide. Together they had three children, Karen, Terri, and James. In 1952 they bought a home on Oakhurst Avenue, and they later built a home on the Rogue River in Kent City where they lived for 47 years. As a family they enjoyed summers at family cottages in northern Michigan with plenty of swimming, fishing, and boating.

Over the years Jim was one to keep busy. He and Dorothy traveled all over the country following the NASCAR circuit as they bought a motorhome and traveled across the country, visiting every state in addition to Alaska and Mexico. Their dogs also went with them. Jim loved go-kart racing, dune buggies, and dirt bike racing. He loved visiting Downtown Trini’s, a Mexican restaurant in Sparta, and he also regularly visited the Sparta Senior Center where he had many friends.

Later in life, Jim experienced both great joy and great sorrow. He was deeply saddened with the death of his beloved wife on April 2, 2009, but life went on. Jim continued to find such value his family and personal relationships. He kept busy creating cartoon characters from wood and then painting them for family and friends to use as lawn ornaments.

With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, James M. Hoogerhyde created a valuable collection of memories that his family and friends will forever treasure.

James M. Hoogerhyde, aged 93 of Kent City, MI, passed away on Monday, November 5, 2018 at Sanctuary of St. Mary. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Hoogerhyde and his brother, Howard (Edith) Hoogerhyde. He is survived by his children, Karen Hamelink, Terri (Roger) DeWit, James (Sharon) Hoogerhyde; grandchildren, Mike (Debbie) Snyder, Cristina Snyder; great grandchildren, Jon, Rachel, Haley, and Jake; and his good friend, Lorraine Gray. Jim was a veteran of World War II, serving in the US Navy. He owned and operated Hoogerhyde Lock and Safe on Leonard Street for many years. Relatives and friends may meet his family on Friday from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. No funeral service. Contributions in his memory may be made to Humane Society of West Michigan. To sign Jim’s guest book and to leave your own memory of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com

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