Barry Dykstra

“Some Guys Have All the Luck.” These words were the chorus of one of Barry’s favorite Rod Steward songs, but they could also be used to describe his life. Barry Dykstra appreciated every moment he had, and whether it was luck or fate, he had a life filled with happy memories.

When their son Barry was born in 1947, neither Rev. Francis nor Mayneen could have known exactly how blessed they really were. As they watched their son grow up with his four siblings, they began to witness Barry’s true enthusiasm for life. Francis, meanwhile, worked as a minister, serving many different churches during Barry’s youth.

By his high school years, Barry’s family was living in Pekin, Illinois. Barry graduated from the local high school, which was, at the time, the largest high school outside of Chicago. He was very active in extra-curricular activities, serving as class officer, track star, and basketball player. One of his favorite parts of school was performing with After Dinner Speaking, a forensics team for which he earned many trophies. Barry enjoyed spending time fishing with his father.

Above all, Barry liked to maintain a balance in his life, especially between sports and academics. He loved to learn about things and apply his knowledge to the real world. Going to college, therefore, was a natural next step for Barry. He enrolled at Illinois State University, where he began working on a degree in Political Science. Though his studies were his main focus, Barry still remained active in the community around him. One highlight of his experiences was that he appeared in the award winning play Antigone.

By 1969, Barry had graduated with his degree. Though his area of expertise was political science, he began working as a psychiatric social worker. This position took him all the way to New Jersey where he worked at a correctional center. Barry spent the next two years here, returning to Illinois in 1971 to teach English and History at Jack Benny Junior High School.

Barry liked teaching, but he also had a passion for learning. He eventually moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he attended the University of Alabama, Birmingham to become a Physician’s Assistant. In his earlier days, Barry had worked a summer job driving an ambulance, so the medical field was not completely new to him. He was fascinated by what he learned as a PA, and by 1980, he had also become a licensed Anesthetist. Barry spent the next 8 years at Holland Community Hospital, where he was instrumental in beginning the first organ donation program.

To Barry, working at the hospital was more than just a job. Whether he was at Holland Community Hospital, Ferguson Hospital in Grand Rapids, or Spectrum Blodgett Campus where he practiced for the past 15 years, he loved being able to offer a helping hand. The job was about interacting with people, both patients and coworkers. Barry treated everyone with respect and kindness, recognizing that they were all people who had become part of his life.

One of the most special people to enter Barry’s life was Lynn Bendull, whom he met while at Illinois State. They were best friends during their college days, then began dating. For a short while they grew apart, but Lynn missed not having her friend Barry by her side. Dressed in a powder blue tuxedo, Barry took Lynn to be his wife on perhaps one of the hottest days in history, June 20, 1970.

Barry and Lynn made the most of their family vacations, but their favorite place was a condo in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was their vacation destination for 26 years, the place where the family created unforgettable memories together. Every year Barry would make the same comment upon arriving at the ocean, “this water is like bath water.”

Barry loved being near the water, whether it was the Atlantic Ocean or Lake Michigan. On one occasion at Lake Michigan, Barry and Lynn offered their assistance with a horrible boating accident. They were honored by the West Michigan Marine Association for their efforts in saving lives. In 2002, Barry also had the opportunity to sail on a ’64 Motor-Sailor from southern Florida to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Power boating was one of his favorite activities because it combined two things he liked – sports and water. When he could, he liked to race Mini Grand Prix race cars.

Sports had been a huge part of Barry’s life since childhood. A large part of Barry’s life consisted of doing things with his children. He coached baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, and was Athletic Booster’s President for West Ottawa. He never missed a game in which his children were involved. Barry was thrilled to see his oldest son Brian score 45 points at a high school basketball game, his middle son Brad’s first start in a collegiate basketball game, and his daughter Heather’s participation in a state finals swimming relay. His favorite television shows were sporting events, particularly Chicago Cubs Baseball. Barry liked attending games as well. He would always sit in the left field bleachers, where he caught three homerun balls at Cubs games and gave one to each of his children.

Barry enjoyed fishing, boating, and being at the beach with his family. Every fall he looked forward to hunting with his son Brad, and this past year he recruited his daughter Heather into the woods to hunt. He also treasured his autumn excursions fishing on Michigan Rivers with his son Brian.

One of Barry’s proudest sports moments came on May 8, 2004. It was then that he ran the 25K at the 5th/3rd Riverbank Run. No one thought he would be able to run that far, including Barry himself. When he returned to work the next day, his coworkers recognized his accomplishment by putting a medal around his neck while singing the national anthem.

As Barry Dykstra’s life went on, he became happier and happier. Perhaps this is because he maintained a balance in his life, between sports and education, between conversation and listening, between living and loving. His friends and family will remember him fondly, as a man who used his experiences to become the best man he could be, and be of service to all.

Barry Dykstra died Tuesday, May 18, 2004 in Holland Community Hospital. He was preceded on death by his father, Rev. Francis Dykstra in 1999 and a sister, Diane Naffziger in 2003. Surviving is his wife, Lynn of 33 years; children; Brian and Jennifer Dykstra of Grandville, Brad Dykstra of Grandville, and Heather Dykstra of Holland; mother, Mayneen Dykstra of Holland; sisters, Sharon and Roger Long of Georgia and Marcia and Gary Howe of Diamondale, MI; brother, Brian C. Dykstra of Holland; brothers-in-law, Ted Naffziger of Florida and Bud and Barb Bendull of Pennsylvania; sister-in-law, Jeanne and Don Spahn of Wisconsin, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be held at 11 am Friday at the Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Road, Holland, MI. Visiting will be 2-4 and 7-9 pm Thursday at the Dykstra Lifestory Funeral Home-Northwood Chapel 295 Douglas Ave. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blodgett Butterworth Healthcare Foundation; 100 Michigan Street N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.