Albert Talsma Jr
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
February 12, 2008
Great Lakes Chorus member Albert Talsma Jr. passed away. Services were held at Cook Funeral Home in Granville. Al was a member of the GLC for 30 years and was part of Australia International Music Festival invitation to the GLC as the 1991 International Chorus Runners-up. There was even a photo of the chorus at the Sydney Opera House on display at the funeral home. Along side the open casket were photos, military medals, a cap embroidered with his WWII service ship the USS Hopewell, and a golf club putter. The casket was moved from the viewing room to the chapel, now draped with the American flag. A country recording of How Great Thou Art was played featuring piano, strings, and choir. several bouquets were along the front wall including one from the GLC. The eulogy also included remarks about his fondly remembered bakery. He loved giving grandkids rides on the riding lawnmower. Had once made a ‘hole-in-one’ and was now expected to be playing those golf links in paradise. I think it was his wife Dorothy who got up and told a funny story about them snowmobiling. A grandson got up and from lined paper read a short heart felt goodbye. Fifteen members of the GLC were in attendence and were invited up to sing. We performed Sweet Hour Of Prayer directed by Michael O’Donnell. At the end we were surprised by the mourners’ appreciative applause. A recording of a choir singing the Navy Hymn was played. Nine uniformed members of the Kent County Honor Guard entered. As each approached the casket they gave a slow solemn salute. One announced Al’s service in the Navy. The Captain gave the Divine Blessing. The doors were opened to the snow covered February day and a three rifle volley salute was heard, followed by Taps. Then they folded the American flag that had been draped on the casket and presented it on bended to knee to Al’s wife Dot, sitting in the front row. The service closed with a bagpipe recording of Amazing Grace. Services were followed by a luncheon next door.
Talsma Jr., Albert
Albert Talsma Jr., age 80, of Jenison, passed away Tuesday, February 12, 2008. He was a WWII Navy veteran and current member of the American Legion, Willard G Leenhouts Post no. 6 in Holland, MI. In 1959 he started Open Kettle Donuts on 28th St. SW. He was also a 30 year member of the Great Lakes Barbershop Chorus. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy (deGraaf) Talsma; children, Kent, Julie, and Jim; grandsons, Dakota Talsma and Harley Poplaski; brother, Tony (Beatrice) Talsma; sisters, Senetta Overlease and Josephine Brewster; and many nieces, nephews and friends. The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Cook Memorial Chapel (East building) with Pastor Dave Balicki officiating. The family will meet with relatives and friends on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home - 4235 Prairie SW - Grandville (West building). In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 1169 Oak Valley Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Your condolences may be sent to the family’s memory book at www.cookfuneral services.com. Cook Funeral and Cremation Services
Published in the Grand Rapids Press on 2/19/2008.
