H. Roger Gezon

H. Roger Gezon was a man of integrity, who gave his all in everything he did with an unwavering and optimistic demeanor. With faith as his guide, Roger accomplished much in life and loved abundantly. He will be fondly remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend to all who knew him.

As the United States was celebrating a time of temporary peace and prosperity between the two world wars, Hiram and Gertrude (Dykstra) Gezon of Grand Rapids, Michigan had a celebration of their own with the birth of their son, H. Roger, on February 8, 1924. Roger was the youngest of five children and grew up under the watchful eyes of his four older sisters: Mildred, Helen, Mary Ruth and Esther. They introduced him to one of his lifelong loves – music. While his mother made a loving, stable home for their family, Roger’s father was a respected businessman in Grand Rapids as one of the founders of C.W. Mills Paper Company, which started in 1903.

Roger received his education in the area schools and graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1942. He then went on to attend Iowa Teacher’s College for a semester before following the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Roger proudly served during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater for 3 ½ years. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home to his family and went back to school at Calvin College.

During his 2 years at Calvin, Roger met the love of his life, Joan Van Malsen. He saw her at the Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium one day and knew he had to meet that beautiful young lady. Roger found out that her father owned Vans Radio Store so he went there and asked to meet his daughter. Dad Van Malsen dialed their home phone number and handed the phone to Roger. Brazenly, Roger asked her for 5 dates right on the spot, but she didn’t know him and turned him down. With much persistence, Roger finally won Joan over and they had their first date. The two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married within a year at Immanuel Reformed Church in Grand Rapids on September 23, 1947, beginning a journey together that lasted 63 years.

After a romantic honeymoon to Mackinaw Island and Wisconsin Dells, the newlyweds settled into married life together in Grand Rapids. Over the next several years, Roger and Joan filled their hearts and home with the joy and laughter of five children: Ruth, William, David, Timothy and Robert. They made many wonderful memories as a family on vacations to Estes Park, Colorado to visit relatives and spending time at their cottage on Lake Michigan near Camp Geneva on Holland’s north side. The family enjoyed all the activities around the Holland area during the summer. So much so that Roger and Joan moved to Holland in 1982. The couple also enjoyed returning to Mackinaw and the Dells, perhaps to rekindle their love like on their wedding day.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Roger worked for over 50 years at C.W. Mills Paper Company and loved what he did. He was very well-spoken and never had a problem standing up in front of a group of people to give a speech, especially to his family at every family gathering. His admirable work ethic and dedication to the company earned him great respect from others. He made sure to pass this incredible work ethic on to his children to guide them through their lives too. Roger served as President for many years before retiring in 1988.

Membership in a Bible believing church was very important to Roger. In his youth and early adulthood, he was a member of Burton Heights Christian Reformed Church, and then he moved with his family to Alger Park CRC and Brookside CRC, serving in various capacities. When the family moved to Holland, they transferred to Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church and eventually joined Christ Memorial Reformed Church where he loved singing in the two hundred voice choir. Roger believed that a Christian heritage was a gift from the Lord and he felt a responsibility to pass that gift on to his family.

Although Roger worked hard to support his family, he also found time to have fun. He often, jokingly, described himself to his family as Joan’s “humble, faithful servant”. When it came to relaxing, Roger enjoyed family cookouts, listening to classical music (loudly), lounging in the hammock on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and playing cards like cribbage. He loved to play with his dog Nathan, watch seagulls play by the lake and gaze at romantic sunsets beside his beloved wife Joan. Roger adored Joan and professed to everyone that “the best day of my life is when I married my beautiful wife.” No matter how simple a meal she cooked, Roger told her every night “this was the best meal I ever had.” It is a huge heart that remembers the small things.

Roger loved being surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, and would do anything for them. They were the ones that he shared his life with, and the ones that he loved dearly. He will be greatly missed.

H. Roger Gezon, age 86, of Holland, MI went to be with his Lord and Savior on his 63rd Wedding Anniversary on Thursday, September 23, 2010, in the Inn at Freedom Village. Roger always said September 23 was the best day of his life and it was on this day that he went to his heavenly home.

Roger was preceded in death by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and James DeJonge, Mary Ruth and Marvin Schans, Esther and Roger Heyns, Dr. Victor VerMeulen and Clare Van Malsen.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan (Van Malsen) Gezon; his children, Ruth and Jim Dreyer, William and Nancy Gezon, David and Nance Gezon, Dr. Timothy and Kristine Gezon, and Robert and Melissa Gezon. Roger is also survived by his grandchildren; Beth and Kurt DeGoede, Krista River, Michael Dreyer, Marc Dreyer, Brian Dreyer, Lisa and Tim Mroz, Jessica and Andy Bourgeois, Julie and Dave Ornee, Nicole and Steve Dyer, Ben and Ashley Gezon, Daniel Gezon, Nicholas Gezon, Jenna Gezon, Ben Gezon, Sarah Gezon, and Mariada Gezon; his great grandchildren; Nate DeGoede, Anna DeGoede, Evelyn Mroz, Samuel Dyer, Ella Dyer, and Claire Dyer; his oldest sister, Mildred VerMeulen (age 101); and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday October 2, in the Chapel of Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Road, Holland with Rev. Bill Boersma officiating.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, October 1, at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland.

Burial will take place in Lakewood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Rapids Christian Schools or Hospice of Holland.

Please visit Roger’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the online guest book or share a memory with his family.