Donald Smeenge

Donald A. Smeenge, age 87, of Holland, died on Tuesday August 24, 2010 at Hospice House of Holland.

He was born in Holland on October 26, 1922 to Richard and Alena Smeenge. He married Effie Geiger on March 13, 1942 with whom he was married to for 61 years until her death. On September 24, 2005 he married Gladys Van Huis. He was a charter member of Christ Memorial Church and recently became a member of Graafschap Christian Reformed Church. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II. After World War II he was a mechanic and he operated several service stations in the Holland area during the 1940’s and 1950’s.

He worked for Parke-Davis for nine years after which he became a real estate broker for Westdale Realty in Holland. He founded Smeenge Appraisal Service in the 1970’s where he worked until he retired in 1992. While he was a real estate appraiser he served for many years on the Board of Review for the City of Holland.

During his retirement he enjoyed perch fishing, camping, golfing and spending the winter months in Florida.

He was a talented jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. For more than forty years he and his various bands were regulars throughout West Michigan playing at places such as the Holland VFW, Crow Bar and Woodshed.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Effie Smeenge in 2004; his daughter, Lorrie De Waard, in 2002; and his son, D. Richard Smeenge, in 1994.

Surviving are his wife of four years, Gladys Van Huis Smeenge; his children, Karen and James Thomas of Cape Coral, FL, Merri and Dr. Michael Oberlin of Traverse City, and David and Debra Smeenge of Holland; daughter-in-law and son-in-law, Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Dr. Robert De Vries of Jenison, and son-in-law, Mark De Waard of Holland; his grandchildren, Chris and Dawn Thomas of Cape Coral, FL, Jonathan Barber of West Olive, Pete and Ann Thomas of Cape Coral, FL, Jenny Barber of Holland, Dr. Elisabeth and Jason Goodall of Brandon FL, Sarah and Chris Byrd of Atlanta, GA, Amanda De Waard of Holland, Michael Smeenge of Houghton, and Daniel Smeenge of Allendale; eight great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter; his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Dorothy Smeenge of Holland; and several nieces and nephews including Alan and Inge Boudreau of Bradenton FL..

The Smeenge Family would like to thank the staff at Hospice of Holland for the tender love and care they provided him during his last year of life.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday August 28, 2010 at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 188 W. 32nd St., with the Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel officiating.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the chapel.

Burial will be in Graafschap Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be given to Hospice of Holland

Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel, www.lifestorynet.com