Jon Roelofs

Jon Roelofs was a man of great strength and character who faced his challenges head on, his determination an important component to the man that his family and friends knew and loved. He viewed each day he was given as a precious gem to be treasured and lived his life with zest and vibrancy. Jon cherished his faith and his family, his life a constant reflection of the beliefs he held so dear. The 1950s were a time of change within the culture of our nation as the television became the dominant form of mass media with the portrayal of the ideal family, the ideal neighborhood, and the ideal schools. William and Marion (Helling) Roelofs, of Muskegon, Michigan were looking forward to their own time of change as well; as Marion was due to give birth to their second child at any time. They were blessed on December 28, 1955 with the birth of their son, Jon. Jon was born with scoliosis of the spine, neurofibromatosis, a disease which may cause serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissue, and cerebral palsy. Jon had an older sister named Jane, and although his medical conditions greatly affected Jons abilities, his parents tried to keep his life as normal as possible. They lived in the Beachwood neighborhood of Muskegon near the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and his father and grandfather, Hans Helling, ran the Helling's Meat department at Boelkins Market, where Jons mother would occasionally help out as well. Jons medical conditions would cause him to have over sixty major surgeries throughout his lifetime. During these years, their family received much support from friends and neighbors who were willing to help out in any way they could. When he was 18, Jon had a spinal fusion surgery that put rods in his back and caused Jon to have to lie on his stomach to recover for nearly a year. This was a situation which Jon took in stride; he even became quite a cook, doing the grilling while laying on a gurney. Jon needed to be transported everywhere which his father often did, but others in the community often helped as well, since there was often much equipment that accompanied Jon. The hard work and perseverance of Jon, his family, and friends paid off as the fusion surgery was successful and when he recovered, Jon was able to drive and get around by himself. As a student, Jon attended Bluffton School and because he missed a lot of school due to his illnesses, he also took special classes at Marquette School. Later, Jon attended West Michigan Christian High School where he blended into the student body as much as he could. For much of his childhood and teen years, Jon had to wear a brace and use crutches to get around; he didnt feel sorry for himself, however, and he didnt want other to either. Jon had a great sense of humor and didnt let his medical issues get him down. He enjoyed many of the same things that other kids his age did; he was a Cub Scout and liked to go camping at Lake Schneppaho. Jon was also a very talented artist who liked to draw and paint. After graduating from high school, Jon went to Michigan State Technical School where he studied accounting for four years. Then he attended Baker College for a couple of years where he studied computers. Jon found employment with the Paul Daniels accounting firm in Muskegon and also for the Johnson Attorneys. Eventually, this work became too physically demanding for Jon and he ended up going on full disability. Sometimes Jon helped out at the family store, especially during the holidays when they made hundreds of pounds of their famous Potato Sausage. Faith became an important cornerstone in Jons life when Pastor Gorenson, from the Mission Covenant Church, offered much spiritual support for the family over the years. This interaction led Jon to join the church where he remained an active member for the rest of his life. Jon enjoyed attending Bible studies and he became active in the Decolores ministry where he was the head cook at many of their retreats. Jon also enjoyed being involved in the Promise Keepers Ministry, a Christian evangelical ministry dedicated to uniting men to become "godly influences" in the world. Independence was an important goal to Jon and he accomplished this goal in many ways. He lived for several years in the Bayview Towers Apartments and later when his parents moved to New Mexico, he remained in Muskegon with the support of his sister, aunts, and uncles. During this time, Jon became very close with his niece Monique and her son Elijah, who always looked forward to Jons special souffl that he made for the Christmas holiday. Over the years, Jons health began to decline and his bones became more brittle, causing them to break more easily. He also needed surgery to place another rod in his back. Throughout these various challenges, Jons spirits remained high, his attitude positive and he continued attending Bible studies and being a prayer warrior at his church, Forest Park Covenant Church. When his health issues became too demanding, Jon moved into Brookhaven Nursing Home where he could receive the more hands on care that he required. Jon brightened the days of the other residents with his warm personality, simply by being who he was each and every day. While there, Jon enjoyed watching Disney movies and cartoons, doing word puzzels and coloring in coloring books that he shared with the other residents. His various health issues eventually overpowered Jons strength and determination but his family embraces the knowledge that Jon is now free from pain and walking with his Lord in his new and perfect body. They look forward to one day being reunited again. Jon Roelofs was a man of great strength who made a huge impact on the world around him. His life touched the lives of many with his sacrificial spirit and genuine servants heart. Jon persevered through various health issues and trials but always remained positive, he delighted in simple things like cooking and stamp collecting. Jon cherished his family and spent a lifetime making treasured memories which will be forever etched on the hearts of all those he leaves behind. He will be dearly missed. Jon D. Roelofs died on Thursday, February 5, 2009. Jons family includes his parents, William (Marion) Roelofs of IN; sister, Jane (Donald) Elliott of IN; aunts & uncles, Norma (Robert) Slayback of CA, Lieschen (Dr. Ronald) Hoeksema of Muskegon, Frances (Bruce) Baker of Cadillac, MI, Susan (Robert) Hickman of NM, Don (Millie) Roelofs of Muskegon, Ray (Gert) Roelofs of CA; niece, Monique Jamison & great nephew, Elijah, both of Muskegon. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at Forest Park Covenant Church with Rev. Russell Carlson officiating. Visit with Jons family and friends for one hour prior to the service at Forest Park Covenant Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Forest Park Childrens Ministries or Muskegon Rescue Mission.