Ralph van der Zee

van der Zee, Ralph "Rintje"
Kalamazoo Ralph died Tuesday May 11, 2010 at his home. He was born July 8, 1928, in Rottum, The Netherlands, a son of Wieberen and Sjoerdtje Hibma van der Zee and moved to the United States in the late 1950s. He worked as a dairy farmer for 50 years in New Jersey and Michigan before retiring. Ralph was a member of Comstock Christian Reformed Church and often attended Covenant United Reformed Church on Sunday evenings. On March 29, 1960, Ralph was united in marriage with the former Agnes Idema who preceded him in death on June 1, 1999. He is survived by one brother and two sisters, Hinke Tiesma, John Naaltje van der Zee and Hiltje Klass Laamsma; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held 11:00 Monday morning at Comstock Christian Reformed Church, 5300 Comstock Ave., with Pastor Ben Hulst, officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Private entombment in Mount Ever-Rest Cemetery will follow services. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or to Comstock Christian Reformed Church. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. www.langelands.com 269-343-1508.