John Noteboom

John Noteboom was a man of great character, great compassion, and great inner peace, traits he so graciously shared with all those around him. He was a man who not only did what he could, but did what he should, with an open heart and a gentle hand. John knew that before you can be a great man, you must also be a good man. To those who knew him, though, John Noteboom was simply the best of men.

The year was 1918, and America - and the rest of the world - was enjoying the end of the brutal battles of World War I, giving cause for celebration and a renewed, restored hope. Here in this corner of the globe, the Noteboom family had plenty of reason to celebrate, as well, with the birth of a son.

John J. Noteboom was born December 22, 1918, on a cold, wintry Sunday in Kalamazoo , the fourth of eight children to Peter and Ellen (Conway ) Noteboom. John's parents were farmers in the little town of Richland , running a large farm of a few hundred acres. They raised cattle, mostly, and naturally everyone in the Noteboom family did their part to help out around the farm. This is where John learned so well the value in a hard day's work, out in those fields, toiling til the sun dipped below the hills.

John attended Richland Public Schools, and in his youth he loved to play basketball. He'd finish his chores after school, and then head out to the barn, shooting baskets on the old hoop nailed to the side, until he was called for dinner.

John graduated from Richland High School in 1938, and while all of his brothers went into military service, John was denied due to a punctured eardrum. But anxious to find a life away from the farm, he headed to the east side of the state, to the Detroit suburb of Southfield, to find his fortune.

Sadly, his father died not long after at a young age, and with his brothers all in the military, John moved back home to help with the farm. That was John, though. He always did what he could, and what he should.

Back in the Kalamazoo area, John began working at Clark Equipment, where he stayed for a decade, from 1942-1952. While his professional life was taking off, his personal life changed for the better in 1950. John attended a local dance, and a beautiful young woman named Carol Miller caught his eye. It didn't take long for John to fall in love with the girl everyone called Bessie, and they were married that same year.

The newlyweds had a series of celebrations over the next few years, with John taking a new job at Upjohn in 1952, and they built a new home on 11th Street in 1953-54. The home was built on some land they bought from family members, and the added room would come in handy soon enough, with the birth of their only child, son Timothy, in 1954.

Bessie worked at the Kalamazoo State Hospital as a supervisor in housekeeping, while John continued his job at Upjohn. When Timothy was old enough, John wanted to make sure he got the proper education - and discipline - so he was sent to boarding school.

Together John and Bessie enjoyed a wonderful marriage, and loved to go dancing on Saturday nights. John played the harmonica, and loved the Big Band music and Lawrence Welk numbers they always played back then.

John was a quiet man, and loved quiet times around the home. Every night after work he loved to come home and tend to his beautiful garden, full of delicious vegetables and gorgeous flowers. After dinner he'd sit in his favorite chair and read the newspaper, cover to cover. John enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, and another of his favorite pastimes was just mowing his yard, all two and a half acres of it.

John retired from Upjohn in 1982, and he and Bessie (who had been retired for some time) made the most of their time together. They traveled to Myrtle Beach for their first winter, and then down to Florida . But after that first year, they didn't spend another complete winter in the south. Sadly, Bessie was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and as it progressed, John was there to care for her every step of the way, right up until the end. Bessie sadly died December 10, 1988, yet was comforted by her beloved husband, who never complained about caring for her, only doing what he could, and what he should, as always.

But it wouldn't be the last time John would find love. As he mourned Bessie, he met a wonderful woman named Irene Lentenbrink through a mutual friend. Like John, Irene was widowed six years prior, and their love soon blossomed. They married on September 22, 1990, at Trinity Reformed Church, heading up north to Cadillac for their honeymoon, where they just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.

John and Irene loved being together, and were anxious to start their new life together. John sold his home on 11th Street and moved in with Irene on Miles Street , before they bought a new house on Golfview. John loved that house, which had a two-car garage to fit his shiny Lincoln quite nicely.

John and Irene did so much together, whether it was playing cards, having quiet dinners at home or out on the town. They also loved to go dancing at the VFW or the Moose Lodge. John was also very involved with the Catholic Church and the Cresol Group, yet he supported his wife and attended her Trinity Reformed Church on occasion.

The couple also went on many different senior bus trips, visiting Florida, Las Vegas, and other places with Trinity Church or John's Paw Paw AARP group. John was very involved in the Paw Paw AARP, and even served as president for a few years. John and Irene even took his first plane ride together, to visit Florida.

Being at and on the lake was important to John. His son Tim had a place on Bankson Lake where he had a pontoon boat and Irene's son Tom had a place on Austin Lake that held many memories for him and the families.

John loved Irene dearly, and family was always the most important thing to him. He was so proud of his granddaughter Kyra, and loved spending time with her, whether it was babysitting or taking her to Big Boy for dessert or Uncle Ernie's for flapjacks. He loved spoiling her, of course, and bought her braces for her teeth, made sure she got a new puppy, and even bought her a car when she started to drive!

Sadly, John had a biopsy on his lung a year ago, and a disease was found in his blood. His health worsened, and he lost nearly 50 pounds. He became very ill, and went into the Kairos Dwelling hospice. He somehow recovered well enough to leave, living several months longer, yet finding it difficult to ever walk again. Sadly, he died Monday, March 20, 2006.

John Noteboom was a kind, gentle soul, an easygoing man with a tremendous sense of humor, of humility, and compassion. He didn't have a mean bone in his body, and always had something nice to say. He was a man who always did what he could, and what he should, with an open heart and a gentle hand. He was a great man, and a good man, and to those who will always remember him, he was simply the best of men. He will be greatly missed.

John J. Noteboom, age 87 of Kalamazoo , died March 20, 2006 at Bronson Methodist Hospital . He was born December 22, 1918 in Kalamazoo , the son of Peter and Ellen (Conway ) Noteboom. Learn more about John, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the LIFE STORY FUNERAL HOME, BETZLER, Stadium Drive (West of US-131). Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral with interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery . Food and fellowship will follow the burial at the church hall. He was preceded in death by his first wife C. Bessie Noteboom in 1988; five brothers: Edward, Paul, Joseph, Vincent and Peter Noteboom and by a sister Margaret Stanfield. Members of John's family include his wife of 16 years, Irene Lentenbrink-Noteboom; a son Tim (Sharon) Noteboom of Lawton; granddaughter Kyra Noteboom of Lawton; a brother Francis (JoAnne) Noteboom of Kalamazoo; two step children: Tom (Laura) Lentenbrink of Portage and Mary (Chuck) Botsis of Portage; six step grand children: Jenni, Bryan, Chris, Jessica, Katie and Carrie; three step great grand children: Ashley, Tony and Bradley and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Kairos Dwelling.