LifeStoryNet.com

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

 

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

Thomas Balkema

October 3, 2020
Kalamazoo, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg

Obituary


Print

Went to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday, October 3, 2020 at his home. Tom was born February 14, 1965 on a U.S. Air-Force base in Okinawa, Japan the son of Henry and Anna (DeVries) Balkema. He was a member of Northern Heights Christian Reformed Church and was the co-owner of CT Electrical Services, Inc. Tom had a passion for studying God's Word and for creation science. He loved using his powerful voice to sing praises to the Lord! He appreciated hard work and enjoyed troubleshooting tough problems with his friends and family over a cup of coffee. Tom loved to do just about anything with his family, and that included lots of time sitting around the table talking, doing devotions, singing, and laughing together. He loved road trips, fishing, and going to Church! Tom valued things that others often overlooked and he saw beauty in the details. On October 24, 1987, Tom was united in marriage to his loving wife Joni (Kloosterman) who survives. Also surviving are his children, Marie (Daniel) Ruthven, Lisa (Samuel) Fujinaka, Bill (Amanda) Balkema, Susan (Matthias) Kamphuis, Bonnie Balkema, Thomas Balkema, Joseph Balkema, Eleanor Balkema; 10 grandchildren; his mother, Anna Balkema; brothers, Jim (Mary) Balkema, Chris (Karen) Balkema, Richard (Charlene) Balkema, Peter (Katie) Balkema; in laws, Bev Kloosterman, Ron (Nikki) Kloosterman, Julie (Bob) Cole, Marty (Heidi) Kloosterman; and many nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Henry; his infant son, John Luke; father-in-law, Martin Kloosterman; and mother-in-law, Margaret Brussee. Friends may meet the family from 10:00-11:00am Thursday, October 8 at Second Christian Reformed Church, 3015 Nichols Rd where services will be held at 11:00am with Pastor Charlie Post officiating. Private interment will be in West Cooper Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Northern Heights Christian Reformed Church. To view Tom's personalized webpage please visit https://www.langelands.com