A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Hopkins Community Reformed Church for local businessman and former Hopkins Village President Ricky Harmsen, who died Monday at Borgess Medical Center. He was 67,
Born April 16, 1952, in Grand Rapids, he was the son of the late Gareth Frederick Harmsen and Joan Winnifred (Kelly) Harmsen. He was the husband of Annette Lyn (Jager) Harmsen and the widower of the late Linda Ann (Brandstatt) Harmsen.
Rick was owner and operator of Rite-Way Body Shop in Hopkins for more than 42 years. He was dedicated to the Hopkins Community. Rick was twice elected village president, had served as chief of the Hopkins Fire Department and was even credited with saving three lives. He was an active member of the Village Council, a member of the Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors and had belonged to the Hopkins Lions Club.
When he wasn’t participating in a community event, or hard at work at the shop, Rick enjoyed golf, bowling and traveling. He loved cars and fancied himself a landscaper. Family and friends looked forward to his annual bonfires.
Besides his wife and companion of the past year, Annette Harmsen, he is survived by his children, Ford (Shelly) Ablett and Tracy (Jeff) McMartin; stepchildren, Becky (Don) Hibman and Michelle Roberts (Carl Hoffmeyer); siblings, Herman “Herm” (Rose) Harmsen, Isabell “Chris” Harmsen and Terri (Denny) Noel; grandchildren, Cody (Hannah) Ablett, Dillan Ablett, Ashley Ablett, Hannah McMartin, Rachel McMartin and Sarah McMartin; great-grandchildren, McKenna Ablett and Peyton Ablett; step-grandchildren, Devin Roberts, Faith Hibman and Jacob Hibman.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Linda Harmsen.
Visitations will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Hopkins Community Reformed Church. Pastor Jonathan VanderWall will officiate, assisted by Comer Skinner. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Rick Harmsen Technical School Scholarship Fund.
The community has lost a wonderful supporter. Ric provided a needed service to the area for over 40 years with the Rite Way Body shop. He served about 25 years on the fire department. He served on the Village Council and as its president. Every charity could count on a contribution from Ric. In so many ways he supported the community in ways most people did not know about. Ric really exemplified what a good community citizen is all about. He will be missed by all of us