Gordon Ondersma

December 3, 1940 ~
April 7, 2022

Gordon Richard Ondersma, age 81, of Grandville, was taken home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Gord and Elaine were married in 1961 and together they enjoyed traveling and making trips to their property up north in Onaway, Michigan. Gord also enjoyed the outdoors, going camping and fishing. Gord began his career in marketing and advertising at the Grand Rapids Press, then led the advertising department at Montgomery Ward for the next eight years. He then joined Meijer for 25 years and retired at the age of 55 as their Vice President of Advertising. He was a tradesman and enjoyed working with his hands or instructing others how to do projects. He also had a talent for woodworking. Gord will be greatly missed for the wisdom and knowledge he shared, his sense of humor and his love and devotion to his family. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Gregory Ondersma; parents, Simon and Marion Ondersma; as well as his brother and sister-in-law, David (Nancy) Ondersma. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 60 years, Elaine Ondersma; children: Lori (Curt) Veldman, Tim (Beth) Ondersma, Craig Ondersma, Diane Kempf, son-in-law, Bill Huber, Mark (Julie) Ondersma, Jodie (Heath) Jurgens, Amanda (Matt) Velthouse; 29 grandchildren and their spouses; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters, Marilyn (Harvey) Holstege and Barbara VanTil; and his nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Grandville Protestant Reformed Church, 4320 40th St., Grandville, with Rev. Nathan Decker officiating. The burial will take place at Grandville Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, April 10, from 1-4 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW as well as Monday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service. The family expresses a heartfelt thank you to Gord’s caretakers and Faith Hospice for their love and compassion shown to him during his stay in Memory Care at Waterford Place. Memorial contributions can be made to Covenant Christian High School, Heritage Christian School or Adams Christian School.