Ralph Slager

On Sunday, May 6, 2018, Ralph Slager left the body he had been born into 90 years earlier to join the choir that sits in front of the God and Savior who gave him life. Ralph's joy while he lived was to take his part as tenor in many praise groups. His voice will be missed. Ralph was blessed with health that allowed him to enjoy the activities he loved - bowling and golf - into his 90th year. His creative talents in woodworking provided far-away children with toys, birds with homes, and many of those he knew with 3-dimensional art sculptures. Born at home to Raymond and Jeanette (Keizer) Slager in the year before the great depression, Ralph joined his brother Ken and sister Lucille in their modest home in Comstock, Michigan. His sister Lois arrived some years later. All were raised to love God and serve others. One of the ways he served was as a soldier in the United States Army during WWII. In 1951, he married his life-long love, Harriet VanderKlok. Together they raised 3 children, Dan, Dutch, and Ruth (John) Lemmenes. In 2017, one day after their 66th wedding anniversary, Harriet passed away. His sisters Lucille (John) Glas and Lois also preceded him in death. Ralph is survived by his brother Ken (Alice), his daughter and sons, grandsons Berant (Heather), David, and Matthew, great-grandsons Michael and Cole, sisters-in-law Trudi (Bill) Newhouse and Dorothy (Keith) Boyce along with many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 11, 2018, 12:00 PM at Brookside Christian Reformed Church (3600 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, 49508) with Rev. Paul DeVries officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends for visitation at Zaagman Memorial Chapel (2800 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546) on Thursday, May 10, from 5-8 PM, as well as Friday from 11-12 Noon prior to the funeral service at Brookside CRC.