John Kuperus, husband, father and grandfather, died Thursday, Feb. 6.
John was born in the Netherlands on July 14, 1936, and immigrated to New Jersey in 1953 where he met and married Annette Aukema Dec. 30, 1958. Together, with five of their children, they moved to Dorr and started Kuperus Dairy Farm, which is still in operation today with the help of the next two generations.
John was an active member of the Dorr Christian Reformed Church for 51 years and served as elder and deacon. He loved farming and was very involved in the farming community, supporting and advising new farmers in the trade.
He is survived by his wife Annette, his children Kalvin and Anne Kuperus, Don and Kathy Kuperus, John and Char Kuperus, Larry and Tammy Kuperus, Glenn and Michelle Kuperus, Brian and Cathy Kuperus and Nancy and Enoch Nobel; grandchildren Sarah and Lee Kuperus; Twila, Gabe (Paige) and Cody Kuperus; Zach (Audra), Phillip and Rose Kuperus; Steve (Ashley) Davis, Emily (Tyler) Bancino and Drew Kuperus; Jacqueline Post, Kelsey (Chad) Niemchick, Isaac (Abby) VandenToorn, Becky and Hannah Kuperus; Elizabeth (Josh) Haarsma, Kristen, Ethan, Jed, Mike, Matt, and Leah Nobel; siblings Bob Collins, Wilma and Adrian Vanden Akker, Pete and Shirley Kuperus, Janet Borgdorff, Henny and Casey Sytsema, Jaltina and Rick Kehr, Dorothy Kuperus, Myles and Glennys Kuperus; Chuck Aukema, Dotty and Sam Valkema, Owen and Anna Mae Aukema, Bruce and Renee Aukema; several great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Nicholas and Arlene Kuperus, sisters Simmie Perri, Anita Collins, Florence Prinzen, and Trina Tolman; brothers-in-law Louis Tolman, Henk Prinzen, Ben Perri and Peter Borgdorff; and grandsons, Owen and Luke Kuperus.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Dorr Christian Reformed Church. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at Dorr Christian Reformed Church Monday, from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to World Renew, formally Food Resource Bank.
I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Kuperus but I know his son Kalvin a fine Christian gentleman, with an exceptional family. So sorry for your loss.