John A." Jack " Boukamp

Hardworking and reliable, fun and outgoing, Jack Boukamp was a man who both earned peoples trust and brightened their day. He was kind-hearted, and always had time to help a friend or a neighbor in need. Above all else, Jack was devoted to his family, and was never happier than when surrounded by those he loved. Jacks memory will live on in the hearts of all those whose lives he touched; he was deeply loved, and will be deeply missed. John Jack Boukamp came into the world on September 12, 1930, and shared his birth year with the invention of Scotch tape, the debut of Mickey Mouse, and the confirmation of Plutos existence. He was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Tom and Hilda (Sorrenson) Boukamp, when he was eleven years old. An only child, Jack grew up in the Jackson Hill area of Muskegon, Michigan, and attended Angel Elementary. He enjoyed being in the outdoors, and made many happy memories fishing with his parents and working on the farm. Jack also had a passion for speed, and from an early age was fascinated by cars. Although Jack enjoyed his school days, he left school early in order to work full-time. In 1950, he joined the United States Air Force, and served his country honorably stateside during the Korean Conflict. Two years later, on January 10, 1952, Jack married Martha Elizabeth Lohman, the woman who would be the love of his life. After Jacks honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1953, he and Martha moved back home to Muskegon. They changed houses several times, and finally settled down in a home on Mary Street in Fruitport, Michigan. As the years went by, Jack and Martha were blessed with three children, whom they named Linda, Brian, and Suzanne. Jack supported his growing family as a heavy equipment operator at Bowen Construction, while Martha worked at the Muskegon paper mill. In his free time, Jack loved tinkering with and riding motorcycles and cars. He was always ready to help out someone with car trouble, and his daughter Linda remembers Jack teaching her how to drive in his Austin Healy. Jack also enjoyed hunting with his dogs, fishing, and boating. He passed his love for hunting on to his son, Brian, and the two went on hunting trips across the U.S. Closer to home, Jack was also a member of the Muskegon Bowmen Club and the Twin Lake Gun Club. He enjoyed travelling, especially in his RV, and the family made trips to the Upper Peninsula, Mount Rushmore, and Florida. Jack retired from Bowen in 1977 after 20 years of loyal service, and set out to make the most of his golden years. During the eighties and nineties, he and Brian made several hunting expeditions to the West, where they hunted prey from elk to antelope. Jack was very proud of earning his G.E.D. in 1988, and gaining sobriety in 1990, a life-changing event for himself and his family. Sadly, in 1994 Jacks father Tom passed away, a devastating loss for Jack. Several years later, his mother Hilda died in 2001, and his beloved wife Martha passed away in 2002. These were difficult times for Jack, and his life would never be the same. He drew comfort, however, from the support and love of his family members. He loved spending time with the grandkids, and taught archery to his grandson Alex. Jack also enjoyed trips to Florida and Hawaii taken with his daughter Suzanne. In 2007, Jack began to show the first signs of Alzheimers disease, and his health gradually declined. In 2010, he moved to Agape Care Home, where he found a home away from home. He loved being there, and all the staff were very good to Jack and his family. Outgoing and personable, kind and hardworking, Jack was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his many friends and family members. Mr. John A. "Jack" Boukamp died on December 6, 2013, surrounded by his family, at the age of 83. Jack is survived by his son, Brian Boukamp of Fruitport; his daughters, Suzanne Boukamp of Muskegon and Linda (Darryl) Siegel of CA; his grandchildren, Tom, Shelby, Lisa, Tim, and Diana; many great grandchildren; and good friends, Tom & Louise Matz and John & Carol Farmer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha; and his grandson, Alex. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Pound Buddies Rescue or Faithful to Felines Rescue. Please visit Jacks personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about his life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.