Jacob Ysbrand Bontekoe

BONTEKOE, Jacob Ysbrand - age 87, of Linden, died Monday, September 24, 2007. Services will be held 11 AM Friday, September 28, 2007 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Linden Chapel, 209 E. Broad St., Linden. Interment will follow at Sharp Cemetery in Deerfield Twp. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-9 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Make-A-Wish Foundation or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Jacob was born August 2, 1920 in Marion, MI, the son of Ysbrandt "Mack" and Hiljse (Hibma) Bontekoe. He was a 1938 graduate of McBain Rural Agricultural School and attended Michigan State College. Jacob married Elizabeth Johnston on September 21, 1942 in Angola, IN. He was a veteran of World War II serving from 1943-1946 in the Army Air Corp where he piolted B-29 bombers in the 393rd Bomb Squadron of the 509 Bomb Group. His plane was standby for the first bomb on Hiroshima and Weathership for the second. He also served from 1951-1953 in the Korean War. Jacob farmed in Argentine from 1946 until 2006. He was the Chairman of the ASCS Committee. Surivivng are: wife, Betty of Linden; three children, Steve (Alice) Bontekoe, Faye (Dale) Fredin, Jane (Chester) Rogalski; eight grandchildren, Scott and Eric Bontekoe, Katrina Prain, Jacob Bontekoe, Dennis and Lars Fredin, and Margaret and Micah Rogalski; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Mildred (Gaylord) Mosher. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Pete, Ryan and Leonard; three grandchildren, Marian Fredin, Sara Fredin and Anna Fredin. Friends may share an online condolonce on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com