Henry Hank John ZYCH

10 JUL 1918 - 8 DEC 2005

• BIRTH: 10 JUL 1918, Holland, Allegan, Michigan
• DEATH: 8 DEC 2005, Fort Myers, Lee, Florida

• MARRIAGE: 4 NOV 1952, Holland, Allegan, Michigan

INDEX

[N30948] Henry (Hank) John Zych

July 10, 1918
Holland, MI

Decenber 8, 2005
Holland, MI

Henry (Hank) John Zych was born in Holland, Michigan, on July 10, 1918. His parents, Sylvester and Victoria Zych, were Polish immigrants who had come to Holland to find work. The sixth baby born to their family, Henry was raised in a two-story white house on First Street. Eventually, three more children would join their bustling household. John was the oldest, followed by Mary, Stella, Frank, Chuck, Henry, Ed, Leo, and Bill.

From the time he was a boy, Henry was a hard worker. One day when he passed a store window, he saw a beautiful new bike that he wanted. He got himself a paper route and worked until he saved up enough money to buy it. As a young man, he managed a gas station on the corner of Eighth Street and Columbia across from Skiles Pizza Tavern. He later worked for Spring Air Mattress. Before he joined the Army to serve in World War II, he worked in Ohio building planes for the war. He stayed in Ohio during the week and every weekend he traveled back to Holland to be with his family and to eat his mother's home cooked meals.

During his service in the Army, Henry was in the 103rd Cactus Division in the Armored Division. He drove tanks and jeeps in the European Campaign and helped to liberate a concentration camp at the end of the war. He earned a Purple Heart, the Combat Badge, campaign ribbons, and more.

After the war ended, Henry returned to Holland and started the Eten House Restaurant on River Avenue with his brother Chuck. Still a bachelor at thirty-three, he met a waitress named Jackie at the Eten House who would later become his wife of fifty-three years. Soon after Henry and Jackie met, he sold his part of Eten House to his brother. Not one to be out of work for long, he began managing the Reef Restaurant and Bay Haven Yacht Club. On November 4, 1952, Henry married Jacklyn Lou Diepenhorst from Holland.

Together, Henry and Jacklyn raised four children. Their first child was Wayne, followed by Tom, Henry (Rich), and Mary. They later had three grandchildren, Zachery, Stephanie, and Jordan. Henry was very proud of his family and was happiest when he was with them. Over the years, there were two occasions he would never miss. One was Christmas with his family and the other was deer hunting with his buddies and brothers.

In 1969, Henry and Jacklyn built, owned, and operated the Dog-N-Suds restaurant in Holland. They worked there with their family and many employees until they sold the business and retired in 1985. After the sale of the restaurant and working hard all of their lives, they bought a condominium in Ft. Myers, Florida. For many years, Henry and Jacklyn would spend their winters in Florida and summers in Holland. Their children visited them often in Ft. Myers, frequently around Christmas time. Whether he was in Holland or Ft. Myers, Henry was always happy to have family and friends stay with him.

Henry appreciated all the simple things in life, like going for a car trip, finding a bargain, or making a meal for himself or someone else. While home in Michigan, he looked forward to having Sunday dinner with his family and friends. He loved to just sit and talk or play cards with his children, grandchildren, brothers, and friends. He loved to play music and sing along, often encouraging others to sing with him. He was a member of Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church of Holland.

Henry will be remembered for many reasons, not the least of which is being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, and friend. He was also a good, honest, hardworking man.

Henry died December 8, 2005, in Ft. Myers. He was preceded in death by his sons, Wayne Zych in 1969 and Henry (Rich) Zych in 1979. His family includes his wife of fifty-three years, Jacklyn Lou (Diepenhorst) Zych of Holland; children, Tom (Nina) Zych of Holland and Mary Zych (Stephanie Geering) of Holland; three grandchildren, Zachery, Stephanie, and Jordan; brothers, Leo (Shirley) Zych of Holland and William (Mildred) Zych of Holland; in-laws, Pauline (Clarence) Boss of Grand Haven and Dawn (Kenneth) Etterbeek of Holland; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, at The Northwood Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes with wake prayers at 8:30 p.m. Services will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2005, at Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church, the Rev. Phillip Nguyen officiating, and Veterans Military Rights at Church. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Please visit Henry's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Our Lady of The Lake Catholic Church or Hospice of Holland.