Jerry was a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids and had lived the past seven years at Raybrook. He was preceded in death by his parents George E. Kloote and Margaret (Grooters) Kloote; brother, George E. Kloote Jr.; and sister-in-law, lvol (Farabee) Kloote. He is survived by his brother, Richard Kloote; sisters-in-law Elsie Kloote and Marcia Kloote; many cousins, and a great deal of friends.
It seems everyone at Raybrook knew Jerry as he helped deliver mail, hand out hymn books for chapel services, and walked around daily during his years at Raybrook - first unaided, then with a cane, and finally with the help of a walker. He was seen so regularly walking along Burton Street a local city bus driver would honk her horn and wave to him whenever she passed by him.
Jerry was a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School, and retired from Blodgett Hospital's food service department after more than 30 years of employment. All his life he was a faithful member of Hope Reformed Church, and for many years provided lawn care and sidewalk snow removal services. Several years ago, soon after he could no longer perform those chores, Hope Church had a special Sunday reception recognizing him and his years of service. He couldn't understand what all the fuss was about but it was well-earned and a proud day for his family and him.
Jerry was so loved by those with whom he came into contact. He was always known to be quick to share a joke, cartoon, or humorous story, and to deliver a written joke or cartoon to a bank clerk or receptionist as he reported in for a doctor, dentist, or other appointment. In addition to walking, he enjoyed annual cruises or excursions. On one cruise in particular to the Panama Canal in1994, he met two friends from Alaska. They have kept in contact with Jerry almost monthly and have sent him a Christmas gift every year since. Attending a Detroit Tigers baseball game with his cousin's son, Bernie Grooters, and friends was also an annual event he enjoyed - probably not so much for how the Tigers played, but for the quality time he spent with friends. He was very good at woodworking. His specialty was to make bowls out of up to 30 different pieces of various kinds of wood, gluing them together and carving out a very nice wooden bowl. Two of them were used as offering plates at Central Park Chapel in Holland for many years and still may be in use today.
Jerry's belief in God and his eternal future was unquestionable. His practice first thing every morning was to have a devotional time. He would read his Bible or other devotional and pray, which would help him "start the day with a good and positive attitude," as he would say. In one of his last visits, Jerry was asked, "do you know how much God really loves you?" His answer was, "yes, enough to send His son to the cross to die for me.”
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matt 25:2)
Visitation with relatives and friends will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 14, 2021 at Cook Memorial Chapel (East building), 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville, MI 49418. A private family graveside ceremony will be held at Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland (#2 Block) next to his father and mother. In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial gift in memory of Jerry to Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook St. SE Ste. 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. The family welcomes memories and messages in their online guestbook at www.cookcaresgrandville.com.
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