Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Zook, Edwin Eli June 9, 2013 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com January 22, 2015, 11:18 pm Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Tues. June 11, 2013 Edwin Eli Zook, 87, of Lake Odessa passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family June 9, 2013. Edwin was born on Jan. 2, 1926 in Freeport to Daniel and Edna (Yoder) Zook. He married his bride, Iris Hesterly on March 27, 1946. The two celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. Ed was a lifelong resident of the community. Most of his life he attended Bowen Mennonite Church. Deeper than just attending church he dearly loved the Lord Jesus and lived his past several decades as a student of the Word, with an intense desire to care for and invite others into the Kingdom who didn't know Jesus. After Ed's retirement from his dairy farm, he sold real estate for 10 years then started building wooden toys. He made well over 1,000 items which he gave freely to each of the grandchildren, great grandchildren and many other children who stopped by for a visit. He and his wife, Iris, raised 10 children. His children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and their spouses total 126. Edwin had a lot of compassion for his family. He could name every one, and prayed continually for each one. He had a way of making each one from oldest to youngest think they were his most favorite. Ed is loving survived by his devoted wife, Iris (Hesterly) Zook; six sons, Richard (Karen) Zook of Clarksville, Harold (Sallie) VanGilder of Lake Odessa, Ronald (Anita) Zook of Wellman, Iowa, Thomas (Linda) Zook of Alto, Timothy (Tammie) Zook of Lake Odessa, and James (Trudy) Zook of Lake Odessa; four daughters, Norma (Dan) Grieser of Sebring, Fla., Joyce (Ross) Weber of Sturgis, Donna (Bob) Kauffman of Breezewood, Pa., and Mary Zook of Lake Odessa; 49 grandchildren and 56 great grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Dale, Fay and Don Zook; and three sisters, Beulah Jantzi, Marcella Swartz and Joan Muhling. Edwin is preceded in death by his father, Daniel Zook; mother, Edna (Yoder) Zook; sisters, Margaret Zook and Evelyn Troyer; brother Keith Zook; one special grandchild, Gregory Zook; and two great grandchildren, Gerald Grieser and Madison Weber. Ed was known in the community as a compassionate, caring, giving, considerate person. Ed was a strong tower for the family. He checked in frequently by phone with many of the family. He will be greatly missed more than words can say. The family rests in the joy that he is rejoicing in the presence of Jesus whom He loved so deeply. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at Koops Funeral Chapel, 935 Fourth Ave., Lake Odessa. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Calvary Grace Brethren Church, 13700 84th Street, Alto, Mich. Burial following service at Bowne Mennonite Church Cemetery. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/z/zook29692nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb