Ronald Jay Terpstra, age 73, went home to Jesus on October 20, 2025.
The most important thing Ron would want you to know is that he loved Jesus. Ron would tell you that he always believed in Jesus, but he came to a deep personal relationship with Him later in life. His glioblastoma diagnosis In August of 2024 drew him even closer to God. He told everyone he met that he believed in Jesus and that he wanted to do good work for Him. He vulnerably shared the story of his cancer even when it was difficult for him to find the right words because of the effect of the surgery and cancer on his brain. It was a grief to him when he could no longer get the right words out to share the story of Jesus with others, read his Jesus Calling devotions and then even listening to the Jesus Calling audiobook became difficult for him to understand. One of his wife’s favorite memories of this difficult time will be the prayer time they had together before going to bed at night.
Ron was a graduate of Holland Christian High School. For the majority of his working life, he worked in maintenance at Life Savers alongside his dad Jake and brother Bob. Ron was an avid sports fan from a young age, making his younger brother Bob play baseball with him and his friends so they could have a full team. He would cave to Bob’s demands that he be called safe on first (even when he was out) in order to have a full team. During his youth he helped out his family with the chickens they raised to help pay for Holland Christian School tuition. Ron was an Army reservist in the 1970s.
Ron had an almost personal relationship with his fitbit, tallying his steps every day-he was very proud of making 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. This continued many months into his diagnosis, and the oncologist was always impressed that he continued to meet his goals. In fact, at our last visit, she told him she had never met someone who had done as many steps as him.
Ron was an avid bowler (four 300 games) and golfer for much of his life and studied up exactly how to excel at those sports. He loved to pass along his tips to his sons (even when they did not ask for them).
Ron loved to take long walks with his wife, check out new restaurants (it seemed each new eating venue became the newest favorite restaurant) and travel. He researched each destination extensively. Whether it was camping out west with his kids when they were young, staying in Arizona with his wife after retirement or traveling to Europe, he immersed himself in each experience.
Ron was also known for his margarita making skills. He was told that he made them better than a restaurant and his margaritas were a popular request at get-togethers.
During the past few years Ron became a birder and amateur bird photographer. Some of his favorite photos were of the warblers that migrated through his own back yard.
Ron loved all of his grandkids, and it was hardest for him to leave them behind. They liked to tease that grandpa had a lot of rules (he did) and these are sure to be part of their conversations in the years ahead.
Ron is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barb Terpstra (Venlet), their sons and grandchildren. Josh and Megan Terpstra (Emma, Lucy, James), Jordan and Maddie Terpstra (Ned, Izzy, Eleanor), Siblings: Dave and Mary Spaulding, Bob and Marcia Terpstra, Brother-in-Law: Lon Lundy and his new wife Patti and mother-in-law Edna Venlet. He was preceded in death by his parents Jake and Carol Terpstra, sister Kathy Lundy, and nephew Zachary Spaulding.
Services will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 25, 2025, in the Sanctuary of Harderwyk Ministries, 1627 W. Lakewood Blvd, Holland MI 49424. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 PM, Friday, October 24, at the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland MI 49464.
Memorial donations to Hospice of Holland in lieu of flowers.
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