James VanHekken

Husband, Father, Architect, Entrepreneur, Community leader, Corvette enthusiast, and the greatest model of a kind, loyal, and gentle man.

JAMES (JIM) T. VANHEKKEN, age 84, of Holland, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, November 17, 2024. Jim was born August 16, 1940, to Martin and Minnie VanHekken of Holland, MI. He was the youngest of their seven children.

On the night of their graduation from Holland High, Jim began dating Sara (VandePoel), who became his wife of 55 years. They had known each other since seventh grade. Jim went on to graduate from Ferris Institute and became an architect, starting his career in Kalamazoo. Jim and Sara married on Tuesday, November 20, 1962. Since Jim only remembered they were married on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, not the actual date, they laughingly celebrated their anniversary twice each year.

Jim and Sara moved to Grand Rapids in 1964, when he began working for WBDC Architecture. In 1978, he co-founded DesignPlus Architecture. Under Jim's leadership, DesignPlus grew to over 50 employees and the third-largest architectural design firm in Grand Rapids. Jim’s work can be seen in many buildings on Hope College's campus, properties along Lake Michigan, numerous businesses, schools, and churches throughout Michigan, and even his children’s homes. Not one to be idle, Jim went on to work with Dan Vos Construction. Anyone who ever worked with Jim knew him to be genuine, collaborative, ethical, and accountable. Jim was also a faith-filled man who volunteered at Fifth Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, First Reformed Church of Holland, and helped build medical missionary buildings in Mexico. Jim could build or fix anything, was an excellent woodworker, approached design as an intricate puzzle to be solved and appreciated, but possessed zero grilling skills—well-done, or on fire was his norm.

In 1998, Jim and Sara returned to Holland full-time where they re-engaged with old friends, celebrated sunsets over Lake Michigan, and enjoyed driving collectible cars up the lakeshore. They remained life partners until her death. We rejoice in their reunion.

Jim was the proudest “Papa” to six loving grandchildren (Zachary, Ella, Sean, Nicholas, Owen, and Ryan), and leaves an indelible legacy on their continuing education. His children survive him: Matthew (Debra) of Grand Rapids; Daniel (Kimberly) of Clarkston, Michigan, and Rebecca McIlwaine of Denver, Colorado. Jim is also survived by his brother, Jerry VanHekken, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Monday, November 25, 2024, at First Reformed Church, 630 State Street in Holland. Visitation will be from 4-6 pm, Sunday, November 24 at Dykstra Funeral Home - Downtown Chapel, 29 East Ninth Street in Holland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Jim’s name to Evergreen Commons—a place Jim helped design, and where he participated in Parkinson’s spin classes https://www.evergreencommons.org/donate.