William Eugene Kooi Sr

William Eugene Kooi Sr.Kooi, William

1926-2016

Kooi, William Eugene Sr. (Bill), 89, of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 17th, 2016 at The Edmond Church of Christ located at 801 S. Bryant Avenue in Edmond.

Mr. Kooi was born in Streator, Illinois to William and Anna Griede Kooi on October 15, 1926. He was the twelfth of fourteen children, and the youngest son (and the son who received his father’s name, “William”). He graduated from Streator High School in 1944, and married Shirley Jean Mitchell on February 14, 1954 in Streator. He worked as a Plant Manager for Skelly Oil Company for 11 years and a Sales Representative for Clow Corporation for 21 years. He was a veteran of the Korean War and served in the Army from 1950 to 1952. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ and served as an elder in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bill and Shirley retired in 1988 and traveled extensively across the United States for 20 years in a motor home. They often spent their winter months in Fort Myers, Florida. They also traveled to Australia, Spain, and Russia.

Bill was known for his humor and was well-loved by many people. Bill and Shirley were a wonderful influence on many people in the churches they served. Sunday dinners with many guests were regular events in the Kooi home, as were late-night youth-group gatherings. Young couples frequently received packages of diapers. Many people received regular rides to church. Thousands of young people continue to benefit from Beechwood Hills Christian Camp in western Michigan, which Bill and Shirley helped to establish in 1975, and of which Bill was the first President of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Directors of Michigan Christian College (now Rochester College) for many years, and on the Board of Directors of Schultz-Lewis Children’s Home in Indiana.

Mr. Kooi is preceded in death by his parents William and Anna, 6 brothers and 7 sisters and a granddaughter, Hannah Jane Kooi.

Mr. Kooi is survived by his wife, Shirley Kooi of Edmond, Oklahoma; 4 children: daughters Alison Hewitt and her husband Greg of Edmond, OK, Shelley Crews and her husband Phil of Longmont, CO, sons William E. Kooi Jr. (Chip) and his wife Mendy of Edmond, OK, and Mitchell Kooi and his wife Karen of East Quogue, NY; grandchildren Brandon Crews of Oklahoma City, Nola Hewitt Ledford and husband Thad of Tulsa, Beth Hewitt Gates and her husband Derek of Aurora, CO, Brady Crews of Longmont, CO, William E. Kooi III (Will) and his wife Holly of Vienna, Austria, Jillian Hewitt of Edmond, OK, Aaron Kooi of Edmond, OK, and Seth Kooi of Edmond, OK. He was also very proud of his four great-grandchildren, Elliott William Kooi, Jenna Michele Gates, Maddisen Rose Ledford and Lucy Jane Kooi.

Honorary pallbearers will be:  Brandon and Brady Crews, Nola Hewitt Ledford, Beth Hewitt Gates, Jillian Hewitt, and Will, Aaron and Seth Kooi.

Memorials may be given to Mountain States Children’s Home in Longmont, Colorado (14780 N. 107th St, Longmont, CO 80504 – www.msch.org).

The family of William Kooi wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Oklahoma City for their care of him over the last several years.

6 thoughts on “William Eugene Kooi Sr”

  1. To & Flo Kooi

    So many wonderful memories from Roodhouse to Kalamazoo! Uncle Bill will me missed by all.our thoughts and prayers to his family.

    1. I am so sorry you have to bear the loss of this dear man. His loving and giving christian example gave us so many wonderful children, grand children, and great grandchildren to carry on his love of the Lord. He will be sorely missed. Hugs and comfort to you all at this time. I am sending up prayers for the family. (I worship with Shelley and Phil Crews in Longmont, CO.)

  2. Our love to the the entire Kooi family. We fondly remember loving, and being loved by Bill and Shirley’s children when they were students at MCC.
    May God give you peaceful hearts as your sweet memories sustain you in the days and weeks ahead.
    Because He lives,
    Nola and Bob

  3. Linda Rachetto

    So sorry for the loss of this great Christian man. I worship with Shelley and Phil in Longmont CO Church of Christ. Praying that God will comfort all those who are mourning him. Linda Rachetto

  4. I am saddened by the passing of my dear friend and brother in Christ, Bill Kooi. Still, I am rejoicing in thought and assurance of his salvation through the merits of our dear Lord’s atoning sacrifice on Calvary. Bill and I labored together as minister and elder for years at the Grandville church of Christ in Michigan. We were served on the original board of directors of Beechwood Hills Christians Camp. Mary and I were dear friends of Bill and Shirley and family for many, many Years. May God richly bless all this great family and one day all serve our Wonderful Lord around His Majestic throne in Heaven for eternity.

    Lewis Karkosky, retired Minister

  5. I’ve tried since Pennie told me about you, Shirley and Family, and your great loss of that wonderful man! I was just crushed when our 39’er’s Class “lost you both” but to another great class, church. With the Risley’s around, you could not have made a mistake in doing that!!!

    To finish my thought–Your VoiceMail box had not been set up, then I tried Bob Elliot in the class and he, too, had found that number n.a. Called Edmond church for your number and tried to leave you a message–couldn’t; Allison’s or Greg’s # in a directory and 411 call-directory; Had no luck at all!

    But I do want you, Shirley, and Allison/Greg and each ‘n all, of my deepest condolences, sadness (when I saw Allison’s posting of her, her beloved dad on FBK) and sympathy.

    May God grant each of you HIS inexplicable peace. I keep a tiny copy near me at all times of Isaiah 26:3-4; perhaps, soon, one of these days it may grant you that peace via his faithfulness and loving kindness.

    In Christian love and friendship,
    Sue Green

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