Ken Meringa, age 84, went home to be with his faithful Savior and Lord on Friday, March 21, 2025. Ken passionately loved the Lord, his family, and others. He grew up learning about the love of Christ and responded personally to God's gracious call of saving faith when he was a teenager. He believed his sin separated him from God and that God sent His son, Jesus, to die on a cross to take the penalty for his sin, giving him eternal life. This reality fueled his lifelong passion to make Jesus known in everything he did. After graduating from Godwin High School, Ken served his country in the Army Reserves. At the same time, God gifted Ken with creative ability and he used that gift with excellence in his career as a builder and remodeler. He lived out Colossians 3:23 which says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” As a lifelong member of Home Acres Reformed Church, he loved his church family and enjoyed serving the Lord in many capacities such as deacon, elder, building and grounds chairman, and master griller of hot dogs and burgers for church picnics. He loved beautifying God's house and, along with his wife, was the church custodian for 38 years. He also transformed the sanctuary with beautiful displays at Christmas and Easter. He delighted in making things beautiful because he thought Jesus was beautiful. He would freely admit that he was not the best student in school, but God taught him to be a student of His Word through Bible Study Fellowship. He participated in BSF for 24 years and loved the men in his discussion groups and sitting in the front row for the lecture every week. His Bible and BSF lessons were full of penciled in notes. Besides his Savior, his greatest love in life was his cherished wife of 55 years, Jeanette. From the moment they met until old age, he enjoyed surprising her with tokens of his unwavering love. God blessed them with a treasured family; 3 children, 13 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Ken will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Jeanette; children, Bonnie (Kraig) Honderd, Bob (Amy) Meringa, Kendra (Dan) Prescher; grandchildren, Kody Honderd, Kenzie (Chad) Hecht, Kiera Troutman, Jesse (Nicole) Arroyo, Keaton (Taytum) Honderd, Khris Honderd, Jehrod Troutman, Aubrie (Wes) VanSolkema, Drew Meringa, Caden Meringa, Blake Meringa, Jake VanderMolen, Isaiah (Jessica) VanderMolen, Luke Prescher; great-grandchildren, Selah, Luke, Leno, Sabriye, Alaya, Tucker, Majlis, Jace, Reef; brother-in-law, Jim Westra; sister, Sue (Wayne) Ondersma; sisters-in-law, Inez (Jack) Potter, Jean McCaul; special friends, Harvey and Darlene VanderMolen. And many more family and friends. Ken was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Kirk VanderMolen; parents, Benjamin and Ruth Meringa; infant brother; brother-in-law, Gary McCaul; sister, Sharon Westra and twin sister, Ruth Meringa. The family will greet visitors on Thursday, March 27, from 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm at Stroo Funeral Home (1095 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI). A Celebration of Ken’s Life will be held Friday, March 28, at 11:00 am at Home Acres Reformed Church (21 Murray St SE, Kentwood, MI) with Pastor Darrell Dalman officiating. A luncheon will follow. The family wishes to give special thanks to Gentiva Hospice and The Oaks at Jamestown for their exceptional care and friendship. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to Home Acres Reformed Church (address above) or Bible Study Fellowship (PO Box 675241, Dallas, TX 75267-5241 or www.bsfinternational.org).