November 14, 1942 – April 21, 2022

Our husband, dad, and grandad, Jon Jay Huisken was born on November 14, 1942, at home in Edgerton, Minn., to Henry and Wilhelmina Huisken. He was received into glory on April 21, 2022.

Jon was the fourth of five children. He grew up with his older sister, Verla, two older brothers, Larry and Darrel, and his younger sister, Beth. Jon married Joanne Grace Veldman on August 8, 1963, and graduated from Calvin College in 1965. Jon is survived by Joanne, their daughters and their families: Amy Beth Huisken Praestgaard and Jens Thomas Praestgaard of Boston, Ma.; Shelley Min Huisken-Coniglio and Mario Coniglio of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada; Jana Lynn Huisken and Christopher Ashe of San Francisco, Calif.; and Jennifer Sue Huisken LaPointe and Lynn LaPointe of Lansing, Mich.; and six grandchildren.

Jon’s life was one of service to his Lord and his community. He exemplified love in a gentle, wise, and witty way, always with a sparkle in his eyes and kind but firm advice to anyone who could use it. He was a loving husband, a much beloved dad, father-in-law, and grandad. He served the Protestant Reformed Church as elder for over 40 years, providing leadership and counsel in all manner of practical and personal situations, and leading catechism classes and Bible studies for all age groups. He was a faithful advocate for the Protestant Reformed Christian schools and served as teacher and school board member throughout his life. A highlight of his service to the schools was the year that he, Joanne, and the girls spent in Redlands, Calif., where they taught 36 covenant children during the inaugural year of the Redlands Protestant Reformed Christian school. Jon began his long career at Hope College in 1969 as Assistant Registrar, was appointed as Registrar in 1970, and promoted to Dean of Academic Services in 1989 as recognition of his service to the Hope community, especially to Hope students. Highlights of his Hope career included leading several international, nature-centric, and Indigenous programs. Our family especially treasures his deep commitment to, and involvement with the Rosebud May Term program. He retired in 2011, deeply loved by faculty and students.

Jon was loved so very much by all of us, our spouses and our children, his brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, the church and schools he served so faithfully, the Hope College community, his friends, and most of all by his heavenly Father.

These are all facts, known to most who read this. Here are a few additional tidbits – in no particular order of significance or chronology — of how we remember our husband, dad, and grandad. He was an avid fisherman who spent hours and hours and HOURS in a pontoon boat on Hamlin Lake in Ludington, Mich. He loved to garden, and he loved to watch and converse with birds — joys he shared in a deeply personal way with Shelley. He loved to read books of all kinds. He loved “nature walks” with Jana, with her skipping along and talking, talking, talking, talking. He referred to Minnesota as the “Holy Land,” called his wife “Joey,” his eldest “Amos the Famous Mosquito,” and his youngest “JenBabe.”

He did not enjoy eating outdoors because of flying insects, but he tolerated birthday picnics at Kollen Park in Holland, Mich. One of the happiest moments of his life was when Jen and Lynn surprised him with FRONT ROW seats for a Lake Wobegon taping. In high school, Jon was in the “B group,” and Joanne was in the “A group,” and only the As could be in the choir. This exactly exemplifies the dynamic of the decades-long relationship that followed. In his own words, “Jonny married up.” When Jon was a 4-year-old child, he walked around his Edgerton neighborhood (which is all of Edgerton) to see if his neighbors had any puzzles they weren’t using. When he was even younger than that, he played “good window, naughty window” in his parents’ garage. He and his brother Darrel almost ruined the suspension of the washing machine in their Calvin College boarding house. His Hope College office crew surprised him with a 50th birthday party at…wait for it…the McDonald’s in Holland, Mich. He was a Twins’ and Cubs’ fan and was so very happy on November 2, 2016. He did not like his food to be delivered, because it “wouldn’t be hot” and “just doesn’t travel well.” He would, however, drive just about anywhere to pick it up, especially if grandchildren were hungry. He loved his four-legged family members and brought MANY little four-legged friends to his mom when he was a child because they “just followed me home” (never mind the piece of bologna in his pocket).

Jon Jay Huisken loved and was loved. He is now in the most loving arms of all – those of his Savior, who is the only comfort in life and in death for those who yearn to see him again.

A funeral service was held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2022, at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville Mich. Private interment will be in Georgetown Cemetery.