Our Staff

Dave Klaassen

Owner and Director

Dave Klaassen was born and raised in Grand Haven and has been a life-long resident. He attended Grand Haven Christian School and graduated from Grand Haven High School and then Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science. He was recently awarded his 60 year certificate in funeral service.

Dave is married to the former Sandra Wierengo and together they have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Dave and Sandy are members of Second Christian Reformed Church where he served as deacon and elder. He is past president of Chamber of Commerce, North Ottawa Council on Aging, Salvation Army Advisory Board and Kiwanis Club. He served the City of Grand Haven as city councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem, and was past president of the U.S. Coast Guard Festival for the 200th Birthday.

He has been involved in the community for over 60 years and was selected for the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award in 1976 and given the Life Time Achievement Award from the Chamber in 2023.

Dave is thankful to God for this opportunity to have a family operated funeral home that will be of service to the entire Tri-Cities area.

Cell: 616-638-6932

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Kurt Klaassen

Owner and Managing Director

Kurt Klaassen was born and raised in Grand Haven and graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1987. He attended Ferris State University, and went on to Cypress College in California where he received his degree in Mortuary Science.

Kurt is a member of the Grand Haven Eagles 925, Grand Haven Elks 1200, and past board member of Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging.

He is also Past President of MFDA District 4, and a current member of the Michigan Mortuary Response Team, trained to respond and assist local medical examiners and emergency management agencies with identifying and returning human remains to their family following a mass fatality incident.

In addition to his funeral service work, Kurt and his family attend Harvest Bible Church.

He enjoys playing softball, hockey, skiing, boating, fishing, water sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Kurt feels fortunate to work and live in the town he grew up in surrounded by family and friends, and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the families of the Tri-Cities Area.

Kurt and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Jordan and Lauren.

Cell: 616.836.3243

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Scott Klaassen

Owner and Director

Scott was born in Grand Haven, attended Grand Haven Christian School and Western Michigan Christian High School in Muskegon, and graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1982. He attended Muskegon Community College and Northwestern Michigan College, and in 1986, received his Mortuary Science Degree from the College of Boca Raton, Florida. 

Scott actively serves our community volunteering at several non-profits over the years including serving as past Chairman of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Committee where he volunteered for more than 35 years.

He also served the City of Grand Haven on the Community Center's Citizen Advisory Board, Harbor Board, and has volunteered at Worship on the Waterfront, Habitat for Humanity, Love in Action, and the Mulligan's Hollow Ski Bowl Expansion Team, as well as the Jingle Bell Parade. He is a past member of the former Grand Haven Jaycees, Ottawa County United Way and served on the Grand Haven Christian School Board.

Scott holds a Limited Life Insurance license used in pre-funding of all types of funeral arrangements and has held a Real Estate license in the State for more than 25 years.

Scott enjoys traveling, biking, boating, walking on the boardwalk, spending time at the beach, and watching our beautiful sunsets.

He has two daughters, Ashley and Hanna who are involved in many church and community events.

Scott considers it an honor and privilege to help guide families through the process of planning a Funeral, Celebration of Life, or Cremation of a loved one.

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Dann Klaassen

Funeral Director

Dann Klaassen was born and raised in Grand Haven, and graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1970. He attended Muskegon Community College, Western Michigan University, and in 1977, he received his Mortuary Science Degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois. In 2017, Dann received his Forty Year Licensee Award from the Michigan Funeral Directors Association.

For 48 years, Dann was employed as a Licensed Funeral Director and Operations Manager with the Langeland Family Funeral Homes in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was a longtime resident of Portage, Michigan; current member of First Reformed Church of Portage, and prior to this, he was a member of Southridge Reformed Church, where he served as Deacon and Elder. Throughout the years, Dann participated in many capacities in serving the church, schools, civic, and community programs in the Kalamazoo/Portage area.

Dann has served as a consultant with Klaassen Family Funeral Home since its' inception, and has now officially joined the family business as of September, 2021. He looks forward to returning home to serve the Tri-Cities Area Community (and surrounding area) for many years to come.

Dann is grateful for the ability and opportunity to create meaningful life celebrations to help families in the community heal from the loss of a loved one.

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Jaime Baumgart-Nienhouse

Family Support/Administrative

Jaime is a Family Support/Administrative Staff member at Klaassen Family Funeral Home.

She graduated from Grand Haven High School, and then Baker College of Muskegon with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Human Services. She joined Klaassen Family Funeral Home in March of 2018. 

Jaime, and her husband, Mike, have been married since August of 2022, and are life-long residents of the Grand Haven area. Between them both, they have two adult children, Cameron and Marissa.

Jaime is a long-time member of the Grand Haven Eagles Aerie 925 Auxiliary and the American Legion Charles A. Conklin Post 28 Auxiliary, and she and Mike enjoy spending time on the beach, kayaking, going on road trips, visiting Jaime's mom in Florida, and gardening.

Klaassen Family Funeral Home allows her the opportunity to provide comfort and support to families at an extremely emotional time in their lives, as well as helping families to share their loved one's story through obituary writing. 

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Sandra Klaassen

Funeral Assistant/Hair

Sandra (Wierengo) Klaassen is a graduate of West Michigan Christian High School. She married Dave following his graduation from Mortuary College over 60 years ago, and she has been involved in funeral service ever since. They raised their three children: Scott, Kurt, and Tammy, while living upstairs in three different funeral homes.

Sandy has been involved with the North Ottawa Community Hospital Auxiliary, Grand Haven Christian School Auxiliary, and served as a Sunday School teacher at Second Christian Reformed Church. She is a former member of the Christian Women's Club and Jaycee Auxiliary, and served on the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Board, and also served as the chaperone to Miss U.S. Coast Guard for several years.

Sandy has attended many National Funeral Directors Association conferences, as well as conferences on the state level. She took pleasure in her job as a travel agent for several years, and enjoys being a member of The Birthday Club.

Sandy continues to support sports and music programs throughout the Tri-Cities area by attending the events her seven grandchildren participate in. She feels her most important role is being a supportive wife, mother and grandmother.

Sandy and Dave spend a few of Michigan’s colder months enjoying the warmth of sunny Florida.

Sandy hangs tight to, "God is good all the time. All the time God is good."

Greg Watters

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Greg grew up in the Tri-Cities area and graduated from Spring Lake High School. He is a veteran of the US Army, and a graduate of Grand Valley State University and Davenport University. 

Greg and his wife, Renate, raised three children: Jessica (Andy) Kempf, Gina Watters, and Alexander Watters. They enjoy spending time with them and their two grandchildren, Halie and Brice. 

Greg was a firefighter for the Robinson Township Fire Department from 1976-2008, retiring as Deputy Chief. He has served the people of the Tri-Cities as a paramedic with NOCH from 1984-2011, volunteer at the Y.M.C.A. as a teacher of the cardiac rehab phase 3 classes, and Harbor Humane Society.

He is a member of the American Legion Charles A Conklin Post #28, the Knights of Columbus #13865, and AMVETS.

Greg and his wife are both members of St. Patrick - St. Anthony Catholic Parish in Grand Haven.

Greg is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys biking, hiking, and kayaking.

His duties at Klaassen Family Funeral Home include helping families by assisting the directors during Visitations and Funerals.

Rodger McKay

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Rodger was born and raised in Grand Haven and is a graduate of Grand Haven High School. He is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, and a former employee of North Ottawa Community Hospital, where he worked for 33 years. 

Rodger has worked for Klaassen Family Funeral Home since 2009. His duties include working visitations and services, as well as assisting with maintenance around the funeral home. 

In his leisure time, Rodger enjoys wood working, and gardening. He volunteers at Trinity Health Grand Haven Hospital (N.O.C.H.) with valet parking. 

Rodger and his wife, Judi, raised five children: Holly, Kevin, Melodie, Ken, and Mary. They are active members of All Shores Wesleyan Church.

Bill Richmond

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Bill grew up in Grandville, and attended Grandville High School, as well as Ferris and Davenport Colleges.

In 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Osterink, and together they have three children, Traci, Brenda, and Dennis; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Bill attends Second Reformed Church in Grand Haven, and has served as both Deacon and Elder for over 35 years.

Bill worked in sales for Oven Fresh Bakery for 29 years and then managed Save-A-Lot food stores for 13 years, before retiring in 2014.

Bill is a volunteer for the Salvation Army of Grand Haven, and enjoys bowling, golfing and rooting for the University of Michigan, Detroit Tigers, Pistons, Lions, and Red Wings sport teams.

His duties with Klaassen Family Funeral Home are assisting with visitations and funerals.

Dan Scanlan

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Dan and his wife, Carol, are originally from Iowa and moved to Grand Haven with their two daughters, Stacey and Nicole (Tim) Tiefenbach when Dan was hired as principal of Griffin Elementary. He retired as principal of Peach Plains Elementary in 2008. 

Dan is a member of the Coast Guard Festival Committee, First Presbyterian Church, and devotes his time during the holiday season to the Crusade for Toys drive sponsored by The American Legion. 

Dan's familiar face brings comfort to many families he's had the pleasure of working with through the school system during Visitations and Funeral Services. 

In his leisure time, Dan enjoys playing golf, especially in his "unofficial" Tuesday Men's League, and sharing the newest photos of his granddaughter, Finnley.

Chuck Fuller

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Chuck was proudly a 5th Generation born in Grand Haven in 1958, and grew up attending Grand Haven High School, graduating in 1976. He completed his Associates degree in Science from Muskegon Community College in 1985.

Chuck met his wife, Kim, (also a 5th Generation born in Grand Haven) in high school, and they have been married since 1977. Together, they raised their three children: Chad (Michelle) Fuller, Craig (Hannah) Fuller, and Caleb Fuller in Grand Haven.

Chuck started out his career in 1982 working for Mercy Hospital in several capacities, including Emergency Room Technician and Surgery Scheduling Coordinator, retiring after 38 years of service.

Chuck is a big Grand Haven History buff, known to those in the community as, “Mr. Grand Haven,” and is active in local research and Genealogy. He is a member of the “Dusty Dozens,” a local group who gets together and discusses local history, a member of the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, and member of the “Backyard Chicken Group.”

Chuck and his wife, Kim, enjoy spending their time raising their backyard chickens, spending time with their five granddaughters, and restoring their 1887 Grand Haven home back to its original character. They also enjoy furniture refinishing, shopping for and repurposing antiques, and being pickers; always looking for the next great find.

Chuck joined Klaassen Family Funeral Home in 2021 and takes pride in assisting families in need with Visitations and Funerals.

Ben Huisman

Funeral & Visitation Assistant

Ben was born in Grand Rapids, MI in 1980, and grew up attending Grand Rapids Christian Schools through tenth grade, then left to finish his high school education at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Ben went on to study for three years at the University of Michigan School of Music, working on a trombone performance degree. He graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in X-ray technology. Ben is kept very busy being a stay-at-home dad to his young son, Arthur. 

Ben met his wife, Lyndsey (Yonker), in the fall of 2016. Lyndsey and Ben became members of Second Christian Reformed Church of Grand Haven in the fall 2018, and they were married on January 19, 2019. Their son, Arthur, was born in November of 2020.

Some of Ben's hobbies include: smoking meat, brewing gluten-free beer, flying kites, and building custom gaming computers.

Dave Klaassen had been after Ben for a while to work at the funeral home, and finally, in July of 2022, he said yes. Ben's wife's mother, Sharon Yonker, is a first cousin to Dave Klaassen.

Linda Mieras

Visitation Assistant

Linda (Schroeder) Mieras was born and raised in Grand Haven and a lifetime resident of Grand Haven. After graduating from Grand Haven High School, she worked for Sears Roebuck & Co. for 12 years. Linda retired from D&W Food Centers after 26 years of service retiring in 2008. 

She was married to Wally Schroeder until his passing, after which, she was married to Ray Mieras until his passing in 2021. 

Linda attends Covenant Life Church where she is a part of the Women’s Bible Study, Widows Connect, and Sunday night social group. She also participates in the Brown Bag Lunch Group, DeColores, and the Charles A. Conklin Post 28 Auxiliary.

When Linda is not working a Visitation for Klaassen Family Funeral Home, she enjoys walking along the waterfront, baking, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Linda has two daughters, Paula (Mark) Bekins and Lisa (Dan) Luckey, and one step-daughter, Kimberly (John) Zevalkink. 

Judi McKay

Funeral Luncheon Assistant

Judi graduated from Coopersville High School, but has lived most of her life in Grand Haven.

She worked for North Ottawa Community Health Systems for for 40 years, and at the time of her retirement, she was working in the same are of the hospital where she was born.

Judi married Rodger McKay in 1990 and together they have five children, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Judi enjoys reading, working in her flower gardens, volunteering at Lakeshore Middle School in the S.C.O.R.E. reading program, and doing pretty much anything that involves spending time with her husband, Rodger.

Jeri Ashcraft

Administrative Staff/Pre-Arrangements

Jeri (DeFouw) Ashcraft has been a Tri-Cities resident her entire adult life.  She graduated from Sparta High School and then attended Muskegon Business College.

Jeri is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spring Lake. She has one daughter, Emalie (Ben) Hunt, and two step-children, Abby Ashcraft and Brad (Alexandra) Ashcraft. 

She enjoys spending time reading, traveling, and spending time with her family, grandson, and friends. 

Jeri looks forward to working with families in the Tri-Cities area. She is assisting with administrative and family support, as well as marker selections and Pre-Arrangements.

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Jenene Young

Office Manager

Telephone: 1-616-842-9495

Email: 

Pastor Doug Bytwerk

Pastoral Care