Dale Overbeek

Dale Allan Overbeek was a man who loved the outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, or just relaxing on a pontoon boat, when he was surrounded by nature, he was in his element. He was also a family man; he loved his children and grandchildren dearly and was a wonderful husband. Dale was a down-to-earth, dedicated man. 1948 was a year of memorable events including the founding of McDonalds, the invention of the Frisbee; even the first televised presidential election. For Marvin and Hermina (Schierbeek) Overbeek the most memorable moment was the birth of their second child, Dale on July 29th. Dale also had three other siblings, an older brother Ron, and a younger brother and sister, Tom and Kristi. The family lived on 120th avenue, North Holland, Michigan on a hog farm. Their father made a full-time job out of tending to that farm, and their mother cared for the house and children, helping out on the farm as well. Of course, the children were recruited to help with chores as well. He was a good brother who looked up to Ron and liked to hang out with him. Like a typical older brother, Ron and his friends always got Dale to do things. Dale just liked to be around them. The boys would play in the silo filled with rice, and hunt rats with BB guns! Dale learned his love for the outdoors from his father. Marvin taught his son how to shoot a gun with expertise. He enjoyed hunting- he and his brothers and friends would go fishing and small game hunting on their own, bringing it home for their mother to cook. Marvin died of a heart attack when Dale was only 12 years old; it was a sudden death and was devastating to the family. For seven years they stayed on the farm and kept it up and running after the death of their beloved father and husband. Dale graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1966 and was drafted into the Army just afterwards. Because of all the hunting lessons from his father, he was an excellent shooter and was put on the rifle team. As a team member he was stationed in Europe, far from the action in Vietnam. After his two year commitment was up Dale returned to Holland. He found work at the local newspaper, the Holland Sentinel where he sold advertisements and even did some writing. Dale was the proud owner of a Z-28 Camero and loved to drag race with his slick car. He was out cruising the strip with his buddies on 8th street when he met Jan Schreur. She was 17 and he was 22 at the time. The two dated and fell in love and quickly afterwards in 1971 Dale and Jan were married. A year after marriage they moved to Hessel, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, this was perfect for Dale. His love for nature flourished here and he enjoyed fishing, and hunting whenever he could. Again he found a job at a small newspaper selling advertisements and contributing some writing as he did before. After four years to move back to Holland, keeping the U.P. property. Soon they had three wonderful children, Zachary, Jocelyn, and Lacey. The group completed Dale and Jans family and they settled into a house on Port Sheldon Street with five acres of land for the kids to run wild on. They had many good times in that house and spent a lot of time with family and friends. There was a pond in the property and during winter Dale would make ice-rinks for the kids. They also had a horseshoe pit, and loved to play. Dale also loved to cook and when he hunted he knew how to cook it up into something delicious. Dale got a job doing irrigation work for Hamilton Supply, later he switched to Springbrook and ended up at Michigan Orchard Supply. He became the sales manager and even designed irrigation systems for farms and nurseries! But even with his busy work-life he made time for his kids. He taught Zachery how to hunt and fish, passing along the love of outdoors that his father taught him. He tried to teach his girls as well, but they didnt like it quite as much. He just loved spending time with his kids and even when he and Jan divorced in 1986 he was still very active in their lives. On the property in the U.P. Dale built a half-trailer, half-cabin that his girls dubbed, The Trabin. It was rustic, complete with an outhouse, but Dale and his kids had good times up there. It was in 1998 that Dale began dating Kathy TenBrink. She was in the nursery business as well and they had known each other for over 20 years. They were both divorced, and found that they were made for each other; they were simply soul mates. Kathys home was on the Grand River and Dales was a place hed built in West Olive. They decided to keep both properties and still live together. Kathy truly was perfect for Dale, she loved to hunt and fish, and the two would ride quad runners, wave runners, and go out on their pontoon boat. Dale was always working on dozens of projects and was always proud to show Kathy what he had been working on all day when she came home from work. He was a talented woodworker and even made some of his furniture. They were in the process of remodeling their house on the river, and had great dreams for it. He was still as loved as ever by his children and now grandchildren. He was known as Papa Dale, the kids really loved Grandma Kathy too, which was a huge bonus. Dale had just started his retirement this winter, and the couple spent a couple months in Florida, devoting one to spending time with Kathys father in the Keyshe and Dale fished nearly every day! Dale just started a new job at a golf course when he was stricken on the job and died very unexpectedly, May 15, 2008. He was a wonderful man who always had time for his family, was an expert with his hands and had a great love of nature. He will be missed. Dales family includes: Wife, Kathy; son, Zachary (Nina) Overbeek, daughters, Lacey (Jef) Dryer, Jocelyn Cantu; 7 grandchildren, Alex, Austin, Adrian, Caden, Reece, Amaya, Gage; brothers, Ron (Jackie) Overbeek, Tom (Debra) Overbeek; sister Kristi (Joe) LaGuidice; father-in-law, Jack TenBrink (Karen); mother-in-law, Betty VerBerkmoes (Jerry); brother-in-law, Tim TenBrink (Diane); sisters-in-law, Jan VerBerkmoes (Jeff), Tracey Inso; several nieces & nephews & many, many friends. He is preceeded in death by his parents, Marvin and Hermina (Schreurbeek) Overbeek. Friends may spend time with Dales family Sunday, May 18, from 2-6 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Grand Haven. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Hope Reformed Church with Rev. Bill Russell officiating. Please visit Dales personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to sign the guest book, leave a memory or make a memorial donation to the Robinson Grace Church Building Fund.