VAN HAREN – Adrian Ade Van Haren passed away on June 29 2010 at Porter Hills in Grand Rapids surrounded by the family he cherished. He was a loving and giving husband father grandfather and great-grandfather who spent his 87 years teaching by example to care about others give of your time work hard and keep God in your life. He adored his wife Donna through 63 years of marriage and shared great love and time with his six children 27 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Ade spent many of his years enjoying his home in Ada overlooking Honey Creek and his summer cottage on Lake Michigan. He could often be found in his workshop behind the house working with wood and building toys and gifts for family and friends or at the card table beating his sons and grandchildren in cribbage. The only son of William and Elizabeth Van Haren now deceased Ade was a WWII navy veteran in the first wave at Omaha beach an employee of Michigan Bell Telephone for 35 years founder and member of the board of directors of Van Haren Electric Inc., and a member of the board of directors of SecurAlarm Systems Inc. Generous with his time and talents he was also a former advisory board member and long-time volunteer at the Franciscan Life Process Center a long standing member and usher at St. Robert’s of Newminster Parish and a long-time volunteer at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater. During holidays Ade was known to stand in the center of the family he had helped to grow and share his prayers and love. He will live on in each of those who loved him. Ade is survived by his wife Donna his children – Mike Van Haren (Kathryn), Pat Van Haren (Chris), Connie Mulder (Jerry), Jim Van Haren (Agata), Brian Van Haren (LuAnn), and Bruce Van Haren (Shirley), his grandchildren and great grandchildren and his beloved dog Mickey. Donations in lieu of flowers to Franciscan Life Process Center 11650 Downes NE Lowell Mi. 49331 the Alzheimer’s Association National Office 225 N. Michigan Dr. Fl. 17 Chicago Ill 60601 or a charity of your choice. Visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm (Rosary at 7:30 pm) at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel 3908 Cascade Rd Grand Rapids Mi. and Saturday July 3 2010 at St Robert’s 6477 Ada Dr SE Ada Mi. from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Funeral service will be Saturday at St Robert’s at 10:00 am.
