Peter John Ryskamp

Ryskamp, Peter John
Kalamazoo, MI Peter passed away early Friday morning, January 11, 2007. He was born May 21, 1909 in Kalamazoo, son of John F. and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Ryskamp and was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. As a young man, Peter was the oldest child of his large family and after the tragic loss of his mother at 9 years of age; he encountered many challenges that prepared him to be the strong person he was. In his youth, he played baseball and participated in the Golden Gloves boxing competition and always enjoyed deer hunting. He had a long, successful career as a self-employed building contractor. Besides contracting many residential homes throughout Kalamazoo and Portage, he also built and managed apartments, including Keenway Circle Apartments. Through the years, he enjoyed time at his homes on Barton Lake, Crooked Lake in Delton, Gull Lake and then on Penasil Lake in LeRoy, MI. He also enjoyed a long active retirement filled with travel, fishing, playing blackjack at the casinos, pool games and was always an avid Detroit Tigers fan. He was very supportive and devoted to all of his family. On June 25, 1929, he married his sweetheart, the former Ruth Zuidema, who preceded him in death on June 16, 1992, after over 62 years of marriage. Also preceding him in death are 3 brothers, Lester, Harry and Robert Ryskamp; 5 sisters, Catherine Stewart, Connie Doherty, Bridget Heymes, Lena Markusse and Pauline Mckinstry, son-in-law, Jack Clay, 2 nephews, John Heymes and James Stewart; and 1 niece, Patricia Nurrie. Surviving are his 2 daughters, Marguerite Clay of Portage and Sally William Birch of Kalamazoo; 1 son, John Janet Ryskamp of Fennville, MI; 11 grandchildren, Stephen Clay of Colville, WA, Scott Loyola Clay of Titusville, FL, John Clay of Thomasville, NC, Matthew Tracy Dixon of Mattawan, Cynthia Dixon of Kalamazoo, Paul Dixon of Mattawan, Mark Ofelia Ryskamp of Glen Ellyn, IL, Peter Lisa Ryskamp of Orono, MN, Jason Ryskamp of Highland Ranch, CO, Rebecca Joel Ryskamp-Scott of Chanhassen, MN, and Nicole Brad Tiley of Owen Sound, Ontario; 16 great-grandchildren, Shawna Shawn Johnson-Lake, Scott Clay, Haley and Jacob Dixon, Xochiti Ryskamp, Peter Joseph, Iyla and Estella Ryskamp, Keeley and Lucas Ryskamp, Nicholas Ryskamp, Elizabeth and Alexandria Scott, Shea, Alexander and Ella Ruth Tiley; 2 great-great-grandchildren Melissa and Tyler Johnson; 1 brother, Abraham Ila Ryskamp, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Peter will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street, with Rev. John Fisher officiating. Private interment will be in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Monday at the funeral home. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be directed to Loaves and Fishes or a charity of one's choice. www.langelands.com 343-1508