RACINE - Mr. Floyd Glenn Tuinstra, 87, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints on Monday, September 19, 2011. Floyd was born in Racine to the late Ralph Sr. and Jessie (nee: Bergsma) Tuinstra on March 18, 1924. He lived most of his life in Racine. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Esther Kwakkel on June 7, 1946. Mr. Tuinstra achieved his GED at the age of 40 and operated a dairy farm. After retirement, he drove bus for Lamers Bus Company. Mr. Tuinstra was an active member of Calvary Memorial Church. At Calvary, he was a member of the Elder Board and on the Board of Directors for Youth for Christ and Willerup Bible Camp in Cambridge. He was a mentor to many young men who would work on his dairy farm and the Racine Youth Group. In Mr. Tuinstra's earlier years, he was an Elder and taught Sunday School at First Reformed Church. He enjoyed reading, bowling, and traveling. He moved to Eustis, Fla. for 19 years, before returning to Racine. Floyd will be dearly missed by his wife, Dorothy; his children, Patricia Irwin (Ernie Wilhelm), Warren (Karen) Tuinstra, and Vernon (Shirley) Tuinstra; grandchildren, Molly (Francis) Fortuna-Castro, Brian (Holly), Jamie (Lori), and Andrew (Julie) Tuinstra, Cindy (Michael) Presley, and Vernon (Sabrina) Tuinstra Jr.; 10 great- grandchildren; sisters, Lorraine (Morris) Loomans, Marcella (Clarence) Kuiper, and Shirley (Don) Verdorn; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Nedervelt and Leonard Peacock; sisters-in-law, Bethel Tuinstra and Helen Tuinstra; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Evelyn Nedervelt and Ruth Peacock; and brothers, Ralph Tuinstra Jr. and Donald Tuinstra. Funeral services will be held at Calvary Memorial Church on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Nathan James officiating. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the Wilson Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, September 21, 2011, from 4 until 7 p.m. and on Thursday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. WILSON FUNERAL HOME 1212 Lathrop Avenue 634-3361 www.wilsonfuneralhomeracine. com
Published in Racine Journal Times on September 21, 2011