Maynard Clarence Venema Obituary (1920 - 2013)

Maynard C. Venema Grand Rapids formerly of Eaton Rapids Age 92, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2013 in Grand Rapids. Born December 30, 1920 in Koudum, Netherlands, one of nine children born to Clarence and Edith (DeYoung) Venema. Maynard moved to the United States with his family when he was age 5. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre where he was injured and had earned a Purple Heart. He returned from the war and married Elsie Smith on December 7, 1946 and they raised their family in Fenton. Maynard began working as a Tool Grinder for Saginaw Steer & Gear in 1947. He later bought a farm in Mikado, MI where four of the five children were born and also worked as a plumber. Maynard had an engineer's mind he had a vision for fabricating and was an excellent welder. Preceding him in death was a granddaughter, Kim Venema; great grandson, Jonathan Rogers; siblings, Janette, Pete, Margaret and Genevieve. Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Elsie; 3 sons and 2 daughters, Donald (Chris), Diane (Phil) Sarlo, Phillip, Paul (Jan), and Doris Cruz; 23 grandchildren; 46 great grandchildren; brother and sisters, Sylvia Heilborn, Mary Smith, Fred (Fredia) Venema and Gertrude Hendricks; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Friday, September 20, 2013 at 2:00 PM from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Deepdale Cemetery in Lansing. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-9 pm and Friday beginning at noon. For online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHome.com