Available 24 hrs. 1-616-842-9495

Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Jacob "Jake" Achterhof, age 87, of Grand Haven, went to be with the Lord peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He was born on October 18, 1937, in Grand Haven, MI, to the late Jacob and Henrietta (Bus) Achterhof.
Jake graduated from Western Michigan Christian High School and went on to proudly serve his country in the US Army from 1957 to 1959, and in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1963, in both Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Knox. He then married Janet Kay Reenders on June 26, 1959, at First Reformed Church in Grand Haven.
Jake worked as a Key Leveler for Story & Clark Piano Factory for 28 years and was also employed by Grand Haven Area Public Schools. He finally finished his career working for Haworth Corp., from which he retired from.
Jake was a member of First Reformed Church in Grand Haven and former member of Ferrysburg Christian Reformed and Trinity Reformed Churches, both of which he served as a former deacon. He enjoyed volunteering his time at Once and Again consignment shop, going on camping trips, walking one to two miles a day, and bicycling around town.
Jake will be forever remembered and missed by his beloved wife of 65 years, Jan; and their three children: Brenda (John) Teunis, Beth VanMeurs, and Bryan Achterhof, all of Grand Haven; six well-loved grandchildren: Joshua (Lauren) Teunis, Lindsay (Chase) Williams, Lexie (Troy) Priess, and Emily, Tyler, and Abby VanMeurs; great granddaughter, Magnolia Grace; brother, Alvin (Effie) Achterhof; sisters-in-law, Shirlee Achterhof and JoAnn Reenders; several nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends, Ron and Pat Fischer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters: Joan Achterhof, Harriet Achterhof, Katheryn Van Oordt, and Jean Prys; and his two brothers, Kenneth and Harold Achterhof.
The Funeral Service for Jake will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Klaassen Family Funeral Home with Rev. John Koedyker officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A private family graveside service will be held at Lake Forest Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Grand Haven Christian School.
** The Service for Jake will be live streamed beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Please click here to view:
https://youtube.com/live/WLOTzlOi1TE?feature=share
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jacob "Jake" W. Achterhof, please visit our floral store.
Grand Haven Christian School
1102 Grant Ave., Grand Haven MI 49417
Tel: 1-616-842-5420
Web: https://www.grandhavenchristian.org/