Earl
Earl H. Koning
Earl H. Koning, of Alamo went home to be with his Lord on
Saturday, June 9, 2007
. He will be remembered for his favorite hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul”. Earl was born
March 27, 1928
in
Kalamazoo
to Swier John and Dena (Yzenbaard) Koning. He was life-long resident of
Kalamazoo
County
. He attended Hillcrest, Vine
St.
, Lincoln Jr. High and was a 1946 graduate of
Kalamazoo
Central
High School
. He enlisted in the US Navy from 1946-1948, serving 18 months on the
Island
of
Guam
. On
February 19, 1949
he married Pearl Tammeling of Chicago, who survives; they were married for 58 years. Also surviving are a son Thomas (Connie) Koning of Kalamazoo and a daughter Arlene J. (Andy) Wykstra of Martin, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Also surviving are 2 sisters, Shirley (Bob) Luckey and Elleen (Frank) French, a brother Donald (Jo) Koning; sisters-in-law Bette Koning and Saundra (Dave) Ives. He and his wife were foster parents for several children in
Kalamazoo
County
. Preceding him in death were his parents, a son Mark J. Koning, brothers John (Tina), Ralph, Harry (Betty) and Norman Koning, sisters Nellie (Walt) Thompson and Doris (Herman) Clear. Earl’s milk delivery career began at the early age of 12 when he helped his dad deliver milk to homes. During his high school years he worked for Bonnema Dairy, Kalamazoo Creamery and did janitorial work at
Kalamazoo
Central
High School
. After his term in the Navy he worked for City Star Disposal and Courtesy Disposal. He later worked at Lockshore Farms Diary for 19 years in wholesale, retail and route supervision. He was known to his customers as “The Friendly Milkman”. In 1973 he and his wife started their own milk distributing company. In 1979 the business was sold to Bareman Dairy (
Holland
,
MI
) where he continued to work till his retirement in 1993.He was a charter member of Westwood Reformed Church and Faith Reformed Church serving as Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher and Boy’s Club Leader. He was a former member of Reformed Baptist Church and recently attended Faith Chapel Ministries. He served for many years on the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Board of Directors. Earl began his political career as Alamo Township Trustee from 1964-1968 and again from 1992-1996. He was elected to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners for 2 terms 1968-1972 serving as vice-chairman in 1971 and chairman in 1972. During these 2 terms he had the honor of representing
Kalamazoo
at the launching of the U.S.S. Kalamazoo in
Boston
. In 1971 he participated in the ground breaking for the new county jail facility on
Lake Street
. In 1973 he served as chairman of the Kalamazoo County Republican party. He continued to serve on the Kalamazoo County Board of Public works for 17 years. Earl was a 4-H leader for several years in the
Alamo
4-H Club. Friends may meet the family Monday from 2 to 4 and
6
to
8 P.M.
at the
Winkel Funeral Home in
Otsego.
Private burial will take place at
Liberty
Cemetery
. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday at Faith Chapel Ministries, 7736 W. G Ave., between 6
th
and 7
th
Streets, Pastor Thomas L. Koning (son) officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Faith Chapel Ministries, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or charity of choice.
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Saturday, June 9, 2007
. He will be remembered for his favorite hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul”. Earl was born
March 27, 1928
in
Kalamazoo
to Swier John and Dena (Yzenbaard) Koning. He was life-long resident of
Kalamazoo
County
. He attended Hillcrest, Vine
St.
, Lincoln Jr. High and was a 1946 graduate of
Kalamazoo
Central
High School
. He enlisted in the US Navy from 1946-1948, serving 18 months on the
Island
of
Guam
. On
February 19, 1949
he married Pearl Tammeling of Chicago, who survives; they were married for 58 years. Also surviving are a son Thomas (Connie) Koning of Kalamazoo and a daughter Arlene J. (Andy) Wykstra of Martin, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Also surviving are 2 sisters, Shirley (Bob) Luckey and Elleen (Frank) French, a brother Donald (Jo) Koning; sisters-in-law Bette Koning and Saundra (Dave) Ives. He and his wife were foster parents for several children in
Kalamazoo
County
. Preceding him in death were his parents, a son Mark J. Koning, brothers John (Tina), Ralph, Harry (Betty) and Norman Koning, sisters Nellie (Walt) Thompson and Doris (Herman) Clear. Earl’s milk delivery career began at the early age of 12 when he helped his dad deliver milk to homes. During his high school years he worked for Bonnema Dairy, Kalamazoo Creamery and did janitorial work at
Kalamazoo
Central
High School
. After his term in the Navy he worked for City Star Disposal and Courtesy Disposal. He later worked at Lockshore Farms Diary for 19 years in wholesale, retail and route supervision. He was known to his customers as “The Friendly Milkman”. In 1973 he and his wife started their own milk distributing company. In 1979 the business was sold to Bareman Dairy (
Holland
,
MI
) where he continued to work till his retirement in 1993.He was a charter member of Westwood Reformed Church and Faith Reformed Church serving as Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher and Boy’s Club Leader. He was a former member of Reformed Baptist Church and recently attended Faith Chapel Ministries. He served for many years on the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Board of Directors. Earl began his political career as Alamo Township Trustee from 1964-1968 and again from 1992-1996. He was elected to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners for 2 terms 1968-1972 serving as vice-chairman in 1971 and chairman in 1972. During these 2 terms he had the honor of representing
Kalamazoo
at the launching of the U.S.S. Kalamazoo in
Boston
. In 1971 he participated in the ground breaking for the new county jail facility on
Lake Street
. In 1973 he served as chairman of the Kalamazoo County Republican party. He continued to serve on the Kalamazoo County Board of Public works for 17 years. Earl was a 4-H leader for several years in the
Alamo
4-H Club. Friends may meet the family Monday from 2 to 4 and
6
to
8 P.M.
at the
Winkel Funeral Home in
Otsego.
Private burial will take place at
Liberty
Cemetery
. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday at Faith Chapel Ministries, 7736 W. G Ave., between 6
th
and 7
th
Streets, Pastor Thomas L. Koning (son) officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Faith Chapel Ministries, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or charity of choice.
Offer Condolence for the family of Earl H. Koning
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
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How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
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