John TerBeek

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John Edward TerBeek, of Wyoming, Michigan, died on August 25th after a prolonged struggle with lung disease. He was seventy years old. John was predeceased by his father, Russell Sr; his mother, Deawn; and his brother, Russell Jr (Rusty). He is survived by his wife, Ashley; his son, Russell; and his daughter-in-law, Hollie. He is also survived by his siblings, Rob, Barb, Jim, and Marc. In memory of him, his family have offered a few words on their memories of him.

His wife Ashley says: “I miss you a lot, teddy bear. It won’t be the same watching Niners games without you.”

His son Russell writes: “Everyone who knew my dad had a good story about him. One of my favorites has to do with him taking me to court with him when I was very young. While he was arguing a case before a judge, I would be reading a science book or drawing cartoons in my sketch pad. After the case, the judge told my dad, ‘your son is the most well-behaved child I’ve ever had in my courtroom. How do you get him to be so quiet?’ Dad responded, ‘I told him that if he made a ruckus, you’d throw him in jail.’ The judge was speechless. That was a frequent reaction for people who interacted with Dad.”

His brother Rob writes: “John TerBeek managed to accomplish much during his 70 years. Graduate of Lee High School, Grand Valley State College and University of San Francisco Law school and his marriage to his wife, Ashley and their son, Russell. But I believe that among his highest achievements was his support and participation in the Godfrey-Lee community.

John served on and was elected President of the Godfrey-Lee school board while John (and Ashley) sent son Russell through to graduation from Lee High, Hillsdale College and Arizona State University,

That said, John was first and foremost a proponent of the Godfrey-Lee community. John, while serving on the school board, also provided legal services to the local community that might not have access to a lawyer. And John always provided the finest legal representation to his clients.

While John lived and traveled across the country, his home was always in the Godfrey-Lee community. John and Ashley lived in the neighborhood in which He was raised, John could view the bedroom window in the house in which he was raised.

John loved his community. He was at home there. He is now at rest there, here to stay.”

His sister Barb writes: “My favorite memory of John was when I was a teenager, maybe 14 years old, and late at night I heard someone trying to get into my second-floor bedroom window. Scared, I went down the hall to wake up John, who staggered out and said, “I’m drunker than Hell, but I’ll beat the shit out of whoever it is.” Fortunately, it was just Rusty, who had forgotten his key. But I will always remember John ready to defend.

His brother Jim wrote a poem about John:

“Johnny TerBeek was a brother of mine

Of him there are many things to be said

If ever you found yourself in a bind

Johnny would show up and start splitting some heads

Monkey face Sabin said John was too dumb

To do anything but a menial job

But Johnny said “Monkey face Sabin’s a bum”

A lawyer I’ll be and make money in gobs

John lived his life in his own unique way

Leaving the world with his distinctive Mark

His motto was “get the hell out of my way“

I’m hitting life’s baseball clean out of the park”

His brother Marc writes: “My first real concert was a gift ticket from John to a Jethro Tull concert at Detroit’s Cobo Hall in 1977 at the very peak of that band’s artistic accomplishment and popularity. The concert and Tull in general had an enormous impact on my own musical trajectory and reviewing tapes of that tour decades later confirmed my memories of it being one of the best concerts I ever attended.

John had a tremendous impact on me, mostly for good, both professionally and artistically. His passing, so soon on the heels of our brother Rusty’s crossing and memorial, leaves a John-sized hole in my mind, much more profound than I could have anticipated. Healing seems far off now but recalling John’s many tales of outrageous flouting of convention (as is described elsewhere in this memorial) will help. “John-Eye lives on in a way in the (more muted) mannerisms of me, his son Russell and my kids Tasha and Hannah.”

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW with the Rev. Mike Fedewa. Burial Grandville Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday from 5 to 8 pm at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Crash’s Landing.