John W. Terpstra  

John W. Terpstra BIRTH 16 Sep 1919 DEATH 6 Jan 201 Burial Jan 11 2016 Hope Cemetery, Highland, Lake, Indiana son of William J Terpstra & and Dora ---

JOHN W. TERPSTRA HIGHLAND, IN - John W. Terpstra, age 96, of Highland, IN passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

John is survived by wife Audrey Terpstra (Van Ryn) (nee Jager); four children: Lynne (Jim) Smit, Bill (Vicki) Terpstra, Fred (Kim) Terpstra and Diane Larsen; fifteen grandchildren: Paul (Penny) Smit, Matthew (Stephanie) Smit, Mark (Jamie) Smit, David (Donna) Smit, Sarah (Layne) Hoekema, Jesse Terpstra, Beth (Brian) Bonham, Rachel Terpstra, Desiree (Joel) Mulder, Nicole (Michael) Wondaal, John Ryan (Kara) Terpstra, Shaina (Matthew) Rudolph, Joshua (Paige) Larsen, Jessica (Matthew) DeLazzer, and Caleb Larsen; thirty six great grandchildren; three step children: Debra Churchward, Jill (Brian) Savage, and Scott (Annette) Van Ryn; five step grandchildren: Carrie (Jeremy) Etress, Ryan (Kathryn) Churchward, Aubrey Churchward, Allison Van Ryn, and Austin Van Ryn; three step great grandchildren; two brothers: Bill (Jackie) Terpstra and Richard (Janet) Terpstra; two sisters: Wilma (late Pete) Bultema and Doris (Ed) Van Drunen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by wife Violet Terpstra, parents William and Dora Terpstra; three brothers: Don, Tony and Albert T erpstra; two sisters: Sadie Kooistra and Bernice Beisboer.

Funeral services will be held on Monday January 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at New Life Christian Reformed Church, 3010 Ridge Road, Highland with Rev. Bill Sytsma and Rev. David Veldhorst officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery.

Friends may visit with the family on Sunday January 10, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Road, Highland.

John was a co-founder of Highland Department Store with Peter Groot in 1946, and president of Highland High School School Board, president of Illiana Christian High School School Board, and president of the Indiana State School Board Association.

He was a veteran of the US Army during WWII and a charter member of New Life Christian Reformed Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Illiana Christian High School or Highland Christian School

TERPSTRA (VanDrunen), John & Violet, Highland, IN, Jan. 15, 50th - the Windmill Herald, #678, February 7, 1991



married 15 Jan 1942 - Illinois, Violet L VanDrunen Birth: 03 Jul 1920 (3 Jul 1920) Death: 16 Jul 1998 - Highland, Lake, Indiana buried: Hope Cemetery, Highland, Lake, Indiana daughter of Garrett R VanDrunen & Alice Kikkert -

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Terpstra still ready to make the sale
nwi.com Wednesday, September 13, 2006
BY LOUISA MURZYN Times Correspondent

LANSING - Patriarch John Terpstra looked with a twinkle in his eye at the tall frozen cooler filled with tempting Culver 's creamy dessert cakes, and he humorously shared why he knows his son, Fred, has the skills to sell ButterBurgers. "He was fresh out of college and told me he was ready to sell," said John, 87, founder of the former Highland Department Store, the family-owned Hoosier retailing institution of 45 years. "A lady came in and her husband had passed away and she needed a suit for him. I told Fred, Here's your chance -- see what you can do.' When he was done, I asked him how he did. He said, reat! I sold her two pair of pants.' " Fred Terpstra, 55, of Crown Point, and his son-in-law Mike Wondaal, 30, of Dyer, last month became the new owners of an existing Culver 's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers at 17010 Torrence Ave. in Lansing... Terpstra learned his best business lessons not in college but from his father. "He's my mentor and best friend, and he gave me the street smarts to try new things and be successful," Terpstra said. "His philosophy was to surround yourself with great people, but have the wisdom to let them manage. Give them freedom to be creative and let them grow." His success has included 13 years coaching softball at Illiana Christian High School in Lansing, three as head coach. During his coaching tenure, Illiana softball teams went to the state finals five times and Illiana players received more than $550,000 in college scholarships. Terpstra's business career -- in addition to the Highland Department Store -- has included owning a car wash, two oil change centers, a portable toilet rental company and cons ulting firm. He said the Culver 's franchise shares his family's business philosophy.... Wondaal said he worked side-by-side with Craig Culver and neither he nor his father-in-law were scared off by the back-breaking training period that some days left them slap-happy from exhaustion. "It's a challenge, but I've never backed away from one," Terpstra said. He works about 65 hours a week but plans to cut back to about 55 after six months. "I'll never be an absentee owner," he added. "Never, ever." And he's not looking at retirement to get a day off in the next 20 years. "I'm not near ready to slow down or sit back," he said. "I love to get up in the morning and go to work and help people. It's a great thing to be a leader and to mentor younger people. "It's an exciting life I live. I guess I'm never satisfied and always looking for perfection. Hopefully some day I'll get there and, until I do, I'm going to have a good time working and trying new things and watching my family grow."

John and Violet had:

LynneTerpstra married Jim Smit
Bill Terpstra married Vicki ---
Fred Terpstra married Kim ---
Diane Terpstra married ---- Larsen

married 2nd Audrey (Jager) Van Ryn