John Asma

John W. Asma, age 88, died May 16, 2017, believing in salvation, the resurrection, and eternal life through Jesus Christ, his Lord. Mr. Asma was born in Andijk, The Netherlands, on July 13, 1928, to Willem and Wijntje (Trompetter). He immigrated to Maryland in 1948 after World War II, and came to Kalamazoo in 1951. From 1951-1953, he served in the U. S. Army Signal Corps in Japan and Korea. He graduated from Calvin College in 1957 and in 1958 obtained an M.B.A. in accounting from the University of Michigan. He became a CPA in 1961 and over the next two decades, worked in public accounting and banking in the Niles-South Bend area, was later employed by Western Michigan University as chief accountant and director of audits, and then served as vice president/controller of Continental Linen Services. From 1980-1997, he owned his own CPA firm. Mr. Asma served on the boards of South Christian Grade School and Kalamazoo Christian High School, and as an elder in the South Bend, Southern Heights and Third Christian Reformed churches. He also served on the board of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and as a volunteer with Crossroad Bible Institute, a prison ministry. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and various accounting associations for many years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donna H. (Vander Ploeg); his children and grandchildren, Robin and David Glerum of Muskegon, Holly, Joshua (Rochelle), Chelsea Breuker (Jeff); Wendy and Raymond Ling of Westlake, OH, Ethan, Connor; Calvin and Dawn Asma of Kalamazoo, Andrew (Sarah), Mark (Tina), Nathan (Amy); Daniel and Bethel Asma of Lake Orion, Kerith, Abigail; and 9 great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Gre (Piet) Visscher, Marianne VandenTop (Bert), and Janie Quist (Chuck); brothers Nick (Lois) and Albert (Mary); sisters-in-law Nancy Asma, Dinah Asma, Nancy (Henry) Vanden Heuvel, and Betty (Dale) Slobe; and brothers-in-law Peter DenHartigh and John Vander Ploeg (Margaret); as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Jacoba DenHartigh and Elizabeth (Kees) Groenewegen, brothers Neil and Jacob, and sister-in-law Jean (Ade) Geenen. Friends may meet the family at Langeland Family Funeral Home, Westside Chapel, 9th Street, Thursday, May 18 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. A service of celebration will be held Friday, May 19 at 11 a.m. at Third Christian Reformed Church, 2400 Winchell Avenue, Kalamazoo. A private interment will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Christian Schools, Third Christian Reformed Church or the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.