Jacob “Jake” Sybesma, age 94, died Monday, June 23.
Born March 9, 1931, in Winsum, Netherlands, to parents Hilbrand and Geertje (Ettema) Siebesma. Jake grew up during WWII, with Germany invading Netherlands in 1940. As a child, he saw Jewish classmates disappear, trains transporting Jewish people to the concentration camps and war planes flying overhead. Netherlands was liberated in 1945. Jake served two years in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, packing parachutes.
Following the advice of his parents, Jake applied for immigration. When approval finally arrived, he voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean on the S.S. Amsterdam ship, boarding Nov. 23, 1955, and arriving in the United States Dec. 5, to begin life anew.
After unexpectedly losing his job in Kalamazoo, he began his career job with Wyandotte Chemicals in 1967, selling cleaning chemicals to the food industry, retiring in 1990. He made life-long friends there and was a top salesman, winning several V.I.P. and Medallion awards for sales achievement.
After marrying Grace Anne Hoffa on Sept. 5, 1956, Jake built a house for his family, which eventually included three children. After divorce, he diligently began anew yet again, building his resources back up, buying land, and building himself another house, where he maintained a vegetable garden, made wine and baked bread.
He was an active member of Martin Reformed Church for decades, volunteering for projects, mission work, meeting for Bible studies, serving on past search committee as a deacon, and ushering.
Jake was known for his resolute faith, resilience, work ethic, unique humor—and frugality, a story combining the latter three he often told.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Geertje, and brother Mike. Family members left behind include his children: Susan (Steve) Geyer, Hilbrand (Rhonda) Sybesma and Michael (Connie Pierce) Sybesma; two grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and nephews and nieces.
Memorial donations may be made to Martin Reformed Church.
Visitation will be Monday, June 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 1, at 11 a.m. at the Martin Reformed Church; 1073 W Allegan St,
