Obituary of Calvin Rykse

Calvin Glen Rykes, age 79, of Monroe died at 9:15 p.m., Wednesday at Tendercare of Monroe where he had been since August. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Covenant Cremation and Funeral Society. Friends may call from 10-12 p.m. Saturday at Calvary United Methodist Church, Monroe. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. with the Rev. William Kreichtbaum officiating. Scattering of the cremains will take place at a later date in Gaylord and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born January 3, 1927 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Joseph and Agnes (Deemter) Rykse. During WWII from 1944 until 1946 he served in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sargeant. He obtained an Associates Degree in Electronics. He married Jacquelyn Boland in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On November 10, 1979 he married Catherine Wolf in Gaylord, MI and she survives. He worked ten years for Model Coverall as a route driver retiring in 1991. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW Post, Christian Reformed Church, and St. Alphonses Church all of Grand Rapids. He was also a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Monroe. He was an avid athlete participating in basketball, baseball, softball, and diamondball. For many years he was active in youth sports by refereeing and coaching, he especially enjoyed his children's activities. In addition to his wife he is survived by four sons: Gary (Susan) of Hudsonville, David, Steven and Michael all of Monroe; two daughters: Jill Price of Dallas, TX and Jan (Michael) Karbon of Coopersville, MI; two brothers: Donald (Lorraine) Rykse and Russell (Lois) Rykse; four sisters: Freida Afman, Evelyn (Gerald) Bremmer, Phillis Paris, and Muriel Ohlmann; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother: William Rykse; four sisters: Gertrude Aarddema, Margaret Kloostra, Annette Hamstra and Eleanor Rotman.