Peter A. VanPutten
October 18, 1940 – August 26, 2023
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Hope Church, 910 Jenks Blvd., Kalamazoo, MI 49006, with Pastors Kent Frens and Kevin Sanders officiating. Visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centrica Rose Arbor Place or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Obituary
VANPUTTEN, Peter A.
Kalamazoo
Age 82, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2023. Peter was born on October 18, 1940, the son of the late John and Annie (VandenBerg) VanPutten. He graduated from Grand Rapids South Christian High and served in the United States Army Reserves. Pete had over 40 years of experience selling lawn equipment and owned and operated Extreme Power in Kalamazoo. He also was a skilled tradesman and in addition to his lawn business, he demolished and built homes. Pete enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, riding his Harley, doing lawn work, fixing things and putzing around his garage. He also loved being up north. He was a gracious person and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. Pete was a long-time member of Hope Church in Kalamazoo. He is survived by his wife, Marklyn “Markie” (McCray) VanPutten; children, Jon (Amy) VanPutten, Karyn (Jeffrey) Hoeksema and Sara (David) DeMann; grandchildren, Zachary VanPutten, Taylor (Tyler) Austin, Luke (Anna) VanPutten, Chad (Christi) Hoeksema, Kade (Regan) Hoeksema, Lynden Hoeksema, Jace DeMann and Kate DeMann; great-grandchildren, Brittyn, Kaia, Baylor and Kuiper Hoeksema; siblings, Marie (Robert) Faber, Joanne Naber, Roger (Virginia “Ginger”) VanPutten and Eugene “Gene” (Kathy) VanPutten; brother in-law, Pat (Kris) McCray; many nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as a host of close friends. Besides his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his brother in-law, Roger Naber. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Hope Church, 910 Jenks Blvd., Kalamazoo, MI 49006, with Pastors Kent Frens and Kevin Sanders officiating. Visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centrica Rose Arbor Place or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
To my dear, loving, caring husband who is now in Heaven free of pain and pills and suffering, but I miss him so. I will go on, but it will be a struggle that I hope I can do all the right things to make him proud of me. I will do the best I can in this heartbreaking time and know you are in my heart forever. Love you, Markie
Pete V I will never forget his hand and guidance in decisions and coaching when we began our biz back in 1985-86 had just graduated from HS. Pete stopped over to show us some equipment and that started a relationship going back 38yrs. Pete was driving a 1985 Ford Ranger single cab silver in color wood racks towing a Owens single axle trailer. Lol 😂 I recall these things Pete was always there to serve us and our needs and so so appreciated this type of service and why he earned the business cause he out worked most and served us. As he always said “I’m a man of my word” we will deliver that was Pete V. God bless you beyond measure today is my prayer for you sir. Wayne McBain.
Pete was a wonderful neighbor to us, and welcomed us like family when we moved to the neighborhood several years ago. Any time we were doing work around the house or yard work, Pete never hesitated to ask if we needed to borrow anything or needed help with this or that. I will miss chatting with him about old cars or his Harleys, and the wave we would always get from him as we’d walk by. You will forever be in our thoughts, Pete.