Jerry Evert VanKuiken, MD

  Dr. Jerry Evert VanKuiken, 78, of East Jordan and formerly of Grand Haven, died Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at his home near East Jordan.

  He was born on November 26, 1946, in Grand Rapids, the son of Frank and Edith Mae (Swart) VanKuiken.

  He graduated from East Kentwood High School in 1964 and Calvin College in 1968.  He served in United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict from 1969 to 1972.  Upon return, he received his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1978.

  He married Sharon Kay Nysson on September 6, 1968, in Grand Rapids.

  As a pediatrician, Jerry spent more than forty years taking care of kids.  He retired in 2015.  He then moved to East Jordan and graciously took care of kids at the East Jordan Family Health Center until 2018. 

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon “Sherri” VanKuiken of East Jordan; one son Jeff (Christy) VanKuiken of Grand Haven; four grandchildren, Stephanie VanKuiken of Holland, Megan VanKuiken of Kalamazoo, Caleb (Jazmyn) VanKuiken of Charlevoix and Nathan (Kaylee Blackstock) VanKuiken of Bad Axe; as well as one great grandson, Carter VanKuiken of Charlevoix.  He was preceded in death by one son, Matthew VanKuiken; his parents; and one brother, Evert Vankuiken.

   A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at the Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix.  There will be a visitation held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Charlevoix Reformed Church in Charlevoix.  Arangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc., East Jordan, Michigan.

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