John J.Aalbregtse, age 82, of Marshall, died on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
John Joseph Aalbregtse was born in Bellevue on August 23, 1925, to John J. and Maude M. (Smullen) Aalbregtse. He moved to Marshall with his family as a child and has lived here and contributed to his community since then. John graduated from Marshall High School in 1943, where he played on the baseball and basketball teams. As many of his generation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during WWII and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Upon his return he attended Western Michigan University. In 1945 he started his career as a mens clothing merchant in downtown Marshall, going to work for the former Vogelreuter's Mens Clothing Store. He became a partner in what became Miller-Aalbregtse Clothing Store on W. Michigan Avenue and was a familiar and friendly face in downtown Marshall until his retirement on Dec. 20, 1991, when he closed his store. Since retirement, he has helped out at Darling Hardware.
When John was a youngster attending Marshall Schools, Marjorie P. Burns caught his eye. They began dating their senior year in high school. Soon after that, Marge watched John write and discovered that he was the mysterious signer of the "Guess who"? valentine she received in eighth grade! The couple were married on Feb. 23, 1946, in San Francisco, and they have proved to be a good team for nearly 62 years.
John was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, where he had taught Sunday School and served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. He was a charter member of the former Marshall Optimist Club. John was a member of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and had served as the Downtown Retail Chairman. He was a member of Claude E. Hale Post #4073 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an avid sports fan and participated on city teams in baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, golf and bowling. He was honored as an inductee into the Marshall Bowling League Hall of Fame. John was a past member of the City Recreation Department Board. He coached some city junior baseball teams and always took interest in his neighborhood kids (with whom John was always a favorite) and their sports. John (and Marge!) always made young people feel welcome and worthy! John and Marge were honored by serving as the Grand Marshalls of the 1992 Christmas Parade and were both recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Hospitality during a Michigan Week celebration.
(Rest of obituary omitted due to living family members being listed)
Information provided by : Kate Keller
John Joseph Aalbregtse was born in Bellevue on August 23, 1925, to John J. and Maude M. (Smullen) Aalbregtse. He moved to Marshall with his family as a child and has lived here and contributed to his community since then. John graduated from Marshall High School in 1943, where he played on the baseball and basketball teams. As many of his generation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during WWII and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Upon his return he attended Western Michigan University. In 1945 he started his career as a mens clothing merchant in downtown Marshall, going to work for the former Vogelreuter's Mens Clothing Store. He became a partner in what became Miller-Aalbregtse Clothing Store on W. Michigan Avenue and was a familiar and friendly face in downtown Marshall until his retirement on Dec. 20, 1991, when he closed his store. Since retirement, he has helped out at Darling Hardware.
When John was a youngster attending Marshall Schools, Marjorie P. Burns caught his eye. They began dating their senior year in high school. Soon after that, Marge watched John write and discovered that he was the mysterious signer of the "Guess who"? valentine she received in eighth grade! The couple were married on Feb. 23, 1946, in San Francisco, and they have proved to be a good team for nearly 62 years.
John was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, where he had taught Sunday School and served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. He was a charter member of the former Marshall Optimist Club. John was a member of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and had served as the Downtown Retail Chairman. He was a member of Claude E. Hale Post #4073 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an avid sports fan and participated on city teams in baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, golf and bowling. He was honored as an inductee into the Marshall Bowling League Hall of Fame. John was a past member of the City Recreation Department Board. He coached some city junior baseball teams and always took interest in his neighborhood kids (with whom John was always a favorite) and their sports. John (and Marge!) always made young people feel welcome and worthy! John and Marge were honored by serving as the Grand Marshalls of the 1992 Christmas Parade and were both recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Hospitality during a Michigan Week celebration.
(Rest of obituary omitted due to living family members being listed)
Information provided by : Kate Keller
John J.Aalbregtse, age 82, of Marshall, died on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
John Joseph Aalbregtse was born in Bellevue on August 23, 1925, to John J. and Maude M. (Smullen) Aalbregtse. He moved to Marshall with his family as a child and has lived here and contributed to his community since then. John graduated from Marshall High School in 1943, where he played on the baseball and basketball teams. As many of his generation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during WWII and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Upon his return he attended Western Michigan University. In 1945 he started his career as a mens clothing merchant in downtown Marshall, going to work for the former Vogelreuter's Mens Clothing Store. He became a partner in what became Miller-Aalbregtse Clothing Store on W. Michigan Avenue and was a familiar and friendly face in downtown Marshall until his retirement on Dec. 20, 1991, when he closed his store. Since retirement, he has helped out at Darling Hardware.
When John was a youngster attending Marshall Schools, Marjorie P. Burns caught his eye. They began dating their senior year in high school. Soon after that, Marge watched John write and discovered that he was the mysterious signer of the "Guess who"? valentine she received in eighth grade! The couple were married on Feb. 23, 1946, in San Francisco, and they have proved to be a good team for nearly 62 years.
John was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, where he had taught Sunday School and served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. He was a charter member of the former Marshall Optimist Club. John was a member of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and had served as the Downtown Retail Chairman. He was a member of Claude E. Hale Post #4073 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an avid sports fan and participated on city teams in baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, golf and bowling. He was honored as an inductee into the Marshall Bowling League Hall of Fame. John was a past member of the City Recreation Department Board. He coached some city junior baseball teams and always took interest in his neighborhood kids (with whom John was always a favorite) and their sports. John (and Marge!) always made young people feel welcome and worthy! John and Marge were honored by serving as the Grand Marshalls of the 1992 Christmas Parade and were both recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Hospitality during a Michigan Week celebration.
(Rest of obituary omitted due to living family members being listed)
Information provided by : Kate Keller
John Joseph Aalbregtse was born in Bellevue on August 23, 1925, to John J. and Maude M. (Smullen) Aalbregtse. He moved to Marshall with his family as a child and has lived here and contributed to his community since then. John graduated from Marshall High School in 1943, where he played on the baseball and basketball teams. As many of his generation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during WWII and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Upon his return he attended Western Michigan University. In 1945 he started his career as a mens clothing merchant in downtown Marshall, going to work for the former Vogelreuter's Mens Clothing Store. He became a partner in what became Miller-Aalbregtse Clothing Store on W. Michigan Avenue and was a familiar and friendly face in downtown Marshall until his retirement on Dec. 20, 1991, when he closed his store. Since retirement, he has helped out at Darling Hardware.
When John was a youngster attending Marshall Schools, Marjorie P. Burns caught his eye. They began dating their senior year in high school. Soon after that, Marge watched John write and discovered that he was the mysterious signer of the "Guess who"? valentine she received in eighth grade! The couple were married on Feb. 23, 1946, in San Francisco, and they have proved to be a good team for nearly 62 years.
John was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church, where he had taught Sunday School and served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. He was a charter member of the former Marshall Optimist Club. John was a member of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and had served as the Downtown Retail Chairman. He was a member of Claude E. Hale Post #4073 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an avid sports fan and participated on city teams in baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, golf and bowling. He was honored as an inductee into the Marshall Bowling League Hall of Fame. John was a past member of the City Recreation Department Board. He coached some city junior baseball teams and always took interest in his neighborhood kids (with whom John was always a favorite) and their sports. John (and Marge!) always made young people feel welcome and worthy! John and Marge were honored by serving as the Grand Marshalls of the 1992 Christmas Parade and were both recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Hospitality during a Michigan Week celebration.
(Rest of obituary omitted due to living family members being listed)
Information provided by : Kate Keller
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