John Kooy, Jr.

John Kooy Jr., age 96, of Clearwater FL, formerly Lansing IL, passed away on Monday, February 16, 2026, his 96th birthday. He began his birthday on earth and went on to celebrate his new birth with Christ in his heavenly home. He was the son of John Kooy Sr. and Laura (Stob) Kooy of Cicero, IL.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sue (Ragucci); four sons, James of Griffith, IN, Robert (Linda Klesker) of Rockton, IL, Rev. Michael (Trudy VanderZouwen) of Grand Rapids, MI, William (Sherrie Brouwer) of Grand Rapids, MI; grandchildren Heather Kooy, Lisa (Robert) Rudy, Elizabeth Case, Benjamin Kooy, Hillary Kooy, Lindsay (Nathaniel) Dillon, Michael Kooy, Carolyn (Mark) VanAllen, Hendrika Kooy, Nicholas (Linnea Carrera) Kooy, Dan (Lisa Vannette) Kooy, Mary (Marcus Dengerink) Kooy, Laura (Trevor) Knauf, Sarah (Jeremy) Witteveen; great-grandchildren Amanda, Jacob, Samuel, Anneka, Shannon, Olivia, Madeline, Evan, Alyssa, AJ, Aaron, Louisa, Eliott, Emilia, Hannah, William, Benjamin, Hendrik, Audrey, Claire, Jackson, Weston, Eli, Oscar, Aiden, Kenzie, Evelyn and James. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Dykstra); son, John III; daughter-in- law, Marjorie (Norman); granddaughter Jill (Kooy); brothers Peter (Cornelia Lindemulder), Richard (Annette Olthoff, Eleanor Bloem), Ralph (Evelyn VanKooten); sisters Johanna (Marvin) Witteveen, Jeanette (Andrew) VanDyke; brothers-in-law Peter (Phyllis Myers) Dykstra, Albert (Joan Caldwell) Dykstra, Rev. Jacob (Christine Kooi) Dykstra; and sisters-in-law Cornelia (Henry) Knapik, Ann (Ray) Bos, Agnes (Gerhardt) Friesema.

John and Liz were married for fifty years. John and Sue reached their twenty fifth anniversary on February 14, 2026. He enjoyed traveling, camping, and exploring numerous states with Liz; later, he and Sue continued to travel well into their eighties. During his teenage years, John constructed wooden ladders and platforms for garbage trucks at Kooy Motors in Chicago. He subsequently worked at Lansing Lumber making cabinets until fellow carpenters encouraged him to start his own business. Initially operating from his home, he founded John Kooy Cabinet and Millwork in Lansing in 1959 and moved the company to Lynwood in 1975. He was deeply engaged in church activities, serving on Building & Grounds Committees, and held roles as Deacon and Elder at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, as well as Elder at Lynwood and Munster CRCs. His faith in Christ Jesus was significant and steadfast.

A Celebration of his Life will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Munster Christian Reformed Church, 214 Ridge Road, Munster, IN, 46321.

Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400