Tracy Prins

Tracy Prins was a man who built his life one brick and one moment at a time. He was a hardworking, fun-loving family man, whose life was filled with successes. Tracy was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, who built a life so full of fond memories, a life we were so lucky to have shared. Tracys story began on a hot summer day in 1937, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were hopeful days in this country, which began to emerge from the dark depths of the Great Depression. On July 29, 1937, James and Katherine (Robinson) Prins celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Tracy Michael Prins. Tracy was the first of three children in the familys home, joining younger brother Robert and his little sister Patricia, who were two and five years his junior. The Prins family was of good Dutch stock, and Tracys hardworking father owned and operated a home heating company, while his mother cared for the kids and the home. Tracy was a typical young boy, who fell in love with sports at an early age, a lifelong love for him. He attended North Muskegon Schools as a boy, and eventually graduated from North Muskegon High School, where he made many lifelong friends. After high school, Tracy headed north to Big Rapids, to attend Ferris State Universitys School of Business. He found much more than an education there. One day he met a beautiful young woman named Judy Robertson, and the two hit it off and began dating. They dated through much of college, and after Tracy graduated, the happy young couple was married, on August 6, 1960, beginning a beautiful life together. The newlyweds settled in Muskegon, where Tracy started his own construction business, Alpha Construction. After watching his dad run his own business growing up, Tracy had a natural inclination to running a business, and had the necessary work ethic to match. Through his hard work and determination, Tracy built a successful business, and one that provided well for his growing family. Tracy and Judy were the proud parents of three wonderful sons, Michael, Mark, and Kurt, who made their father so happy over the years. As hard as he worked, Tracy always made time for his family, and they did so much together over the years. Every Sunday in wintertime, theyd pile in the car and head up to Thompsonville, to go skiing at Crystal Mountain Resort. Tracy loved to ski, and the family also went on fantastic ski trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Steamboat Springs, Colorado over the years. Tracy eventually sold his successful Alpha Construction business after many years, and went to work the rest of his career as a Project Manager for Triangle Associates Construction in Grand Rapids. He enjoyed working there, enjoyed the people he worked with, and it afforded him more time for his family and his many hobbies, too. Tracy was a man who learned to live for the moment, and had so many wonderful moments in his life. He loved to get together with friends and go to the casinos, play golf, or sit around and play Bunko together. He and his high school buddies had a long-running tradition of playing an Old-Timers baseball game on Labor Day, though as their years progressed, eventually the baseball game became a golf match! Tracy loved sports his whole life, and he followed many different sports and teams over the years. He loved following Michigan State football, where his son Kurt attended, and followed Grand Valleys team, too, when his son Mark went there. Tracy even followed the Alabama Crimson Tide, when Mike went to school in Tuscaloosa. Tracy was such a big sports fan, he and Judy had separate TVs, so they didnt have to fight over the remote (especially when Tracy wanted to watch NASCAR!). Tracy and Judy traveled quite a bit later in life, and enjoyed spending their winters in Florida, and heading up to Georgia to visit Mike and Mark and their beloved grandkids. Tracy sometimes went to the bowl games in Florida, too. Tracy and Judy would travel around visiting their many friends, too, but family was always first in their lives, especially their grandkids, who made Tracy so proud. Tracy and Judy also took care of Judys mother later in life, lovingly caring for her until she died at the age of 91. Tracy was a very loving, patient man, and would do anything for the people close to him. They felt the same way about him, though. In fact, when Tracys health began to fail and he required a kidney transplant, his beloved Judy gave him one of hers! That was the kind of marriage they had, sharing a love much more than special. They loved being together, and had many of the same tastes and interests. Tracy and Judy both loved country music, and went to many, many concerts together, most recently to Grand Rapids to see Tim McGraw, Willy Nelson and Kenny Chesney. They also enjoyed quiet times at home, curled up with Tracys beloved cat, Junior, or their Shih-Tzu dog. Sadly, despite their best efforts, Tracys health continued to decline. Determined to fight his illness, he even entered the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and had been under their guidance and care for several years, making repeated trips there. Tracy battled the illness bravely, and was determined to live his life for the moment. He even enjoyed a great trip up north to the casino with his good friends, for some quality male bonding in early December of 2007, which meant so much to him. Despite his valiant struggle, Tracy sadly died at the Mayo Clinic on Friday, December 14, 2007, at the age of 70. Tracy was a wonderful man, who lived a life he built one brick and one moment at a time. He was a hardworking, fun-loving family man, who would do anything for the people close to him, just as they would for him. More than anything, family and friends were the foundation Tracy built his life upon, a life we were so lucky to have shared. He will be greatly missed. Tracy is survived by his wife, Judy; 3 children, Michael (Alison) Prins of GA, Mark (Allison) Prins of GA & Kurt (Angela) Prins of Norton Shores; 5 grandchildren, Cameron, Riley, Emily, Jarett & Ethan Prins; brother, Robert (Jane) Prins of FL & a sister, Patricia Holtzer of CA. Tracys family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you who they consider they extended family who are their friends and neighbors who so selflessly took care of their lawn, meals, mail and continued to provide moral support and love through out their travels to the Mayo Clinic and through Tracys illness their love, care and support has made this journey just a bit easier. Services are scheduled for Friday, January 11, 2008, 2:00 PM at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon. Visitation is Friday, 1-2 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Tracy, or to sign the online guest book.