Glenn Tucker

A caring and much loved man with a giving heart, Glenn Tucker loved helping people. He spent his life balancing hard work with being a loving father and husband, succeeding in providing the best for his family. Glenn was one of those special people who could talk to anyone. It was easy to get to know him and you just naturally felt comfortable when you were with him. He often lent his quirky sense of humor to everyone around him and in doing so, brightened many lives.

The widespread of prosperity of the 1920s ended abruptly with the stock market crash of 1929 and the great economic depression that followed. The depression threatened people’s jobs, savings and even their homes and farms. At the depths of the depression, over one-quarter of the American workforce was out of work. For many Americans, these were hard times. It was into this uncertainty that Gerrit and Jennie (Hilbink) Tucker welcomed their son, Glenn, on January 15, 1929, in East Saugatuck, Michigan. Being one of seven children in a depression era family, times were often difficult but the family was filled with love. Already as a youngster, Glenn learned the value of hard work toiling in the fields on celery farms in nearby Hamilton. It wasn’t all work for Glenn while growing up; he also enjoyed hunting with his dad, brothers and friends, making sure to bring along his much loved Beagle dogs who would chase out the rabbits while they hunted. Another of Glenn’s great passions was zipping around on a motorcycle, against his father’s better judgment. His passion for freedom riding would carry on throughout his life on his own Harley Davidson. Glenn attended the East Saugatuck grade schools and went on to graduate from Holland High School in 1946.

Fresh out of high school and wanting to spread their wings, Glenn and three of his buddies fostered the idea of moving to Florida to find great jobs, but unfortunately their big plan didn’t pan out and returned home. As fate would have it, upon returning to East Saugatuck, Glenn met Lois on a blind date and a beautiful relationship started to grow. In September of 1948, Glenn enlisted with the U.S. Army being stationed in Germany and Austria. Although the service took Glenn miles from home, Lois stayed on his heart and mind while he was gone. Upon his discharge, he and Lois picked up where they left off and continued to foster their love for one another. The happy couple was married on a beautiful fall day in October of 1952, in the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church Chapel. After the wedding, they scurried off to honeymoon in Washington, D.C. Glenn and Lois were blessed with six wonderful children: Sharon, Jane, Barb, Sally, Patricia and Gene, who brought great joy and happiness to the Tucker household. Glenn was not one who liked to go on vacation; he was quite content at home. On occasion, he ventured to West Virginia to visit family and to Baldwin to see his sister. The family also tried camping a few times, but Glenn didn’t care much for roughing it. On another memorable excursion, they traveled to see the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. Their sightseeing was crammed into a short 24 hours before Glenn hit the road for home again.

Besides being a dedicated father and husband, Glenn also worked for years at the Crown Motors Body Shop in Holland before retiring about five years ago. He also diligently worked at Ford Garage in Hamilton in the body shops and worked on the cars. Glenn wasn’t one to be idle and found retirement a little slow for him so he returned to the shop working part-time. In earlier years, Glenn also served as a firefighter for the Graafschap Fire Department and would often catch up with old friends at the station over morning coffee. It wasn’t unusual to see Glenn at the Graafschap Hardware Store where he loved to chat with his friends and keeping up on local events. When Glenn wasn’t working, he belonged to the Holland Beagle Club and ran rabbits every chance he could. He was also a member of the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church where he served as a Cadet leader years ago.

As was apparent from his pleasant demeanor, Glenn enjoyed the simple things in life. He loved to sit in his kitchen, which boasted of a big picture window, where he could admire the birds feeding at their many feeders and hoping to spot the rascally squirrels, which also frequented the feeders. It was no secret to all the grandchildren that grandpa’s favorite seat at the kitchen table was off limits. Glenn enjoyed playing cards, bowling on Monday night leagues, having breakfast every Friday with a friend from the body shop and watching some old show movies like Gun Smoke or game shows. Glenn was also an avid NASCAR fan and was a part of a NASCAR fantasy league, where he earned the nickname “body shop boys.”

One of Glenn’s greatest joys was bringing joy to others. From telling jokes to make people laugh, offering a hand to fix something, or simply by his kind and caring words of encouragement, his thoughts were always of others. Glenn thoroughly enjoyed every minute he was able to be around his family, especially his grand and great grandchildren. Those close to Glenn knew how much they meant to him, if not by his words, then by his actions of love and dedication.

Glenn Tucker died on Wednesday, February 18, 2004, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Surviving is his wife, Lois Tucker, of 52 years; his children: Sharon (Gale) Soules of Grand Rapids, MI, Jane (Leo) Blake of Diamond Springs, MI, Barb Barnaby and Mark Knoll of Holland, MI, Sally (Mark) Dykstra of East Saugatuck, MI, Patricia (Blaise) Smith of Allegan, MI and Gene Tucker of Holland, MI; 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; sister, Gladys Collings of Hamilton, MI; Brother, Jr. Tucker, of Grand Haven, MI; in-laws: Sarah Tucker of Holland, Robert Strabbing of Zeeland, Gladys and Jim Genzink of Holland, Amy Strabbing of Holland, Norma and Bill VanPopering of Byron Center, Jo Strabbing of Holland, Carol and Herm Kolk of Zeeland, Mary and Roger Shoemaker of Middleville, Chuck and Ona Strabbing of Holland; as well as several nieces, nephews, aunts, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m. at the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church, with the Revs Henry Vanden Heuvel and Stan Scripps officiating. Burial will be in East Saugatuck Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, February 20, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are by the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes. Please visit Glenn’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, order flowers online or make a memorial contribution to the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church Building Fund.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive or debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

Glenn will be deeply missed, but his kindness, his generosity and his warm laughter endure as an example to all who knew him.