John E. Heemsbergen was born to Evert and Marie Heemsbergen on April 8, 1957, in Pleasantville, Iowa, and had lived in the Hollandale area during his younger days. He passed away on July 20, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz.
John married Annalee Van Ravenhorst on Nov. 17, 1963. Born into this union were a daughter and son. He is lovingly remembered by his wife Annalee, his daughter Annette and her husband Brian Delaney of Herndon, Va., and his son Roger and his wife Michelle of Deming, N.M.; grandchildren Brett and Cara; sisters Dena (LeRoy) Larsen and Gert (Cornie) Rietveld; brothers Bill (Terrie) Heemsbergen, Marvin (Patti) Heemsbergen and Melvin (Marlys) Heemsbergen; sister-in-law Dorothy Heemsbergen; mother-in-law Esther VanRavenhorst; sisters-in-law Dorothy Young, Gladys (Ralph) Schroht and Carol (Donn) Riskedahl; brothers-in-law Steven (Debi) Van Ravenhorst and Brian (Mary) Van Ravenhorst; and many nieces and nephews and friends.
A celebration of life service was held on July 23 in Lordsburg, N.M., at the airport.
Life was always an adventure with John. His love of life and his traveling spirit took the family from Minnesota to California to Alaska to Arizona to New Mexico with many stops and starts inbetween. His love of toys brought them countless hours of fun-riding motorcycles and jet skis, driving boats and dune buggies. He loved to fly the many airplanes he bought and sold.
John was a teacher of life and the lessons he taught will be carried on by his children and the many, many people he took under his wing along the way.
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to slide in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride.’”
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gerrit and Marion; and his father-in-law, Dick Van Ravenhorst.