Donald J. Japenga

Don Japenga was a quiet, uncomplicated man, who enjoyed the simpler things in life. The grapes in his garden, the fish in the stream, the warmth of his family, these were the things Don loved most in life. He was a proud veteran, loyal brother, and a loving father and friend. Don was always a quiet man, but his life, and his love, spoke volumes. Dons story began on a warm summer day in 1933, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were such difficult times in this country, which was caught in the teeth of the Great Depression, and times were so tough for so many families. Yet on June 17, 1933, Herman and Elizabeth (Jorgenson) Japenga found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Donald. Don joined his older siblings Ruth, Bob, Jim and Helen, and his little sister Margaret in the familys Muskegon home, where his father worked as a carpenter and his mother cared for the home. As a boy, Don walked to school at a little one-room schoolhouse named Sullivan Elementary, and eventually attended Ravenna High School. When he was a teenager, he also worked at Slater Celery Farms, toiling in the fields to help make extra cash. The hardworking Don also picked strawberries on the side, too. After graduating from high school in 1952, Don enlisted in the Air Force. It was the height of the Korean War, but Don spent his service working on jet engines on the base in Okinawa, Japan, and never saw action. When he was discharged, Don returned to the Muskegon area, and promptly started a new life. He met a girl, fell in love and was married, and before he knew it, Don was the proud father of two fine sons, Jack and Jeff and one daughter Donna. His marriage to their mother wouldnt last, though, and Don and the boys eventually moved in with his little sister Margaret and her family. The families got along great together, and his children and Margarets kids were the best of friends. In the wintertime, Don would get out the hose and spray down the hill by their house, turning it into an icy amusement park ride! He made toboggans out of old pails and saucers out of pizza pans (he never threw anything away), and got a real kick out of watching the kids fly down that hill. Simple pleasures, that was Don. Don provided for his family by working as a custodian at Fruitport High School for many years, the perfect job for the quiet, hardworking handyman he was. Later in life he began working construction, until he fell into a hole in 1980, injuring his leg, and forcing him to take early retirement on disability. After a long career of hard work, Don finally had time for himself, time to pursue his passions. There were so many things Don enjoyed in life, and all of them were as uncomplicated and genuine as he was. He loved to fish, and caught his share of trout, perch and blue gill over the years. He enjoyed deer hunting, and playing cribbage with his family and friends He loved tending to his huge garden, where he grew many flowers, fruits and vegetables. His favorites were his beautiful violets and tulips, but he also enjoyed his own little vineyard of grapes, which he turned into his own homemade wine. Every fall Don canned his fruits and vegetables, too. Don was also a skilled craftsman, and loved his woodworking shop in his basement. There he spent hour after hour creating beautiful bird houses, squirrel houses, feeders, windmills and Whirly Birds, too, which he enjoyed giving to his friends and family. Don was a quiet man who kept to himself, but he had many good friends, especially his neighbor Ron and his friend Ernie. He made many friends at the Muskegon VFW, too, where he was a 30-year member, as well as the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie #668. But Dons best friend was his son Jack, who he shared most of his best memories with. They fished together often, or hunted, or just watched a good old movie together. When the children were little, Don loved to take all the kids swimming, or fishing, and their day in the outdoors was always followed with him cooking a huge meal. Don loved to cook, and was an excellent chef, whose barbecue spare ribs were a thing of beauty, and famous at their family gatherings. Don loved those gatherings the best of all, especially Christmas and New Years Eve get togethers. Sadly, Don developed lung cancer in 2006. He was cared for by the generous staff at Poppen House for 4 months then later at Roosevelt Park Nursing Home but after a brave battle with the disease he died on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, under the care of Harbor Hospice. He was 74. Don was a quiet, uncomplicated man, simple yet simply wonderful. He was a proud veteran, loyal brother, uncle, and a loving father and friend, who enjoyed the simpler things in life. Don was always a quiet man, but his life, and his love, spoke volumes. He will be greatly missed. Don is survived by his 2 sons, Jack Japenga of Muskegon & Jeff Japenga of CA; 1 daughter, Donna (John) Warner of Muskegon; 3 grandchildren; 1 sister, Margaret Ann (James) VanderVelde of Ravenna; 1 brother, Robert (Anna) Japenga of Muskegon & several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Ruth & Helen & by a brother, Jim. Services are scheduled for Friday, October 26, 2007, 1:00 PM at the Clock Chapel. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Hospice. Please visit his Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Don, or to sign the online guestbook.