Walter Jack Stenberg

A lifelong resident of the community he loved, Walter Stenberg made a significant impact in the lives of so many within his reach. With an unwavering faith in Jesus, he lived life to the fullest every day, savoring every moment he was given. Alongside the love of his life for nearly 60 years, Jack witnessed his family tree blossom to include the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren he treasured more than anything on this side of heaven. Although life will never be the same without Jack here, his family finds comfort in knowing that death has no sting for those who know Jesus and are looking forward to a glorious reunion in their eternal home.

Life during the 1930s was anything but easy, as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. With a soaring unemployment rate, countless Americans found themselves without work, willing to do whatever they could to weather the storm. To make matters worse, a harsh drought gripped our nation’s heartland for nearly two years during this time, adding more strain to an already crippled agricultural industry. Despite the trying times around them, a young couple from Plainwell, Michigan, was filled with joy as they welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on April 9, 1931. Walter Jack was one of two children born to his parents, Clarence and Arla Stenberg, at William Crispe Hospital in Plainwell. Jack grew up in Plainwell along with his sister Jean. Jack was often known as Whitey for his brilliant blond head of hair, a nickname that remained popular around Plainwell for Jack’s entire life. His father worked as a night supervisor at the paper mill in Parchment while his mother taught school before her children were born.

Even as a young boy Jack was resourceful and hardworking. He grew and sold vegetables around the neighborhood with his sister, pulling a wagon full of their produce around the block when he was just 10 years of age. Together Jack and Jean also collected newspapers to take to the mill to sell. If they were lucky enough to collect magazines they were really excited because they could get a penny a pound! It is interesting to note that the Stenberg kids were into recycling long before doing so was the trend. Jack also enjoyed having his own pony, Topsy. Topsy was a smart little pony who could unlatch any gate and let all of the other farm horses out to roam the neighborhood.

Jack was an entrepreneur early on. He and Jean ran a worms-for-sale business in their neighborhood. Jack dug up worms in the riverbed behind their house at 415 South Main, and Jean managed the worm stand. Their father put a sign out front stating that there were “Worms for Sale.” Since digging worms was hard work, Jack was not willing to drop the price. Moving to the farm outside Plainwell in 1944 provided Jack with the opportunity to grow and sell sweet corn and watermelon, and he also milked his own cows. For a time he raised Chester White pigs that he entered into competition at the fair. Of course he wanted them to be clean, so he washed them with his mother’s fels-naptha bar. This would have been no big deal, except that these bars were scarce during the days of WWII so she only had two of them. At least he took first place with his pigs! As part of the Future Farmers of America, Jack was quite successful as he received numerous awards as a high school student. A few years later, during the early fifties, Jack served as an ambulance driver in the United States Army while stationed in Germany during the days of the Korean Conflict.

Life was forever changed for Jack when he met the love of his life. Her name was Grace LaHuis, and she first spotted him while singing a solo at Plainwell Baptist Church. Since he was sitting beside a pretty young woman, however, she assumed that he was already spoken for. Come to find out, it was his sister, Jean, whom Jack was sitting with. Sometime later after church on Sunday evening Jack and his buddies, Darl Eley and Roy Shively, drove to Otsego so that Roy could make up with his girl, Connie LaHuis. They picked up Connie, and her sister Grace, walking home from church. The girls sat in the backseat, and before long Roy found himself pushed over the front seat into the back. Once Roy had straightened things out with Connie, which apparently worked out well as they were married for 60 years, it was decided that Jack needed to be in the back as well to get to know Grace. They somehow tossed him back there, right onto Grace’s lap! Well, Jack and Grace were later married for almost 60 years as well! Jack courted his sweetheart in his very own Model A, and with a desire to establish a life together the couple was united in marriage on October 29, 1953.

Together Jack and Grace were blessed with three children, Ruth, Mary, and David. Early in the lives of their children, Jack and Grace made a decision to invest in a vacation lot on nearby Pine Lake. After the cottage was built, the Stenberg family spent many fun-filled weeks and week-ends at the lake. Jack was responsible for patiently teaching many friends and neighbors how to water-ski. Jack’s family was a constant source of joy for him, and it was even better when grandchildren began arriving. His grandchildren loved their visits to Pine Lake and the chance to “ride the boards” behind Grandpa’s boat.

Throughout his life Jack was guided by his personal faith. He accepted the Lord as his Savior during his elementary years, and he lived his life in accordance with the Christian beliefs that were engraved upon his heart ever since. Jack was an active member at Northeastern Baptist Church and then Friendship Wesleyan Church. Jack was a popular figure at Stanford Lodge and Life Care Center where he taught Bible studies and visited residents.

Just this past summer Jack and Grace were able to spend five days with all of their children and most of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a cottage on Lake Huron. This was a dream come true for Jack as his family meant everything to him, and being there with nearly everyone was a highlight of his life.

A man of honor, integrity, and humility, Walter Jack Stenberg was a great man to know and to love. Jack’s devotion to his family was unmatched, and they were his greatest source of pride and joy. Jack also sought to serve his Savior in church leadership positions and Bible classes. He will be deeply missed, while his memory remains a lasting gift in the lives of all who knew and loved him.

Walter Jack Stenberg died on March 15, 2013. Jack’s family includes his wife, Grace; sister, Jean Zager; children Ruth (Wayne) Holden, Mary (Byron) Hurd, and David (Cindy) Stenberg; and 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren with one more on the way. Jack was preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Marshall-Gren Funeral Home in Plainwell, with visitation on Monday, March 18, 2013, from 4-7 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.