Dean Michael Kapenga ran into the loving arms of Jesus on August 5, 2024. An unexpected stroke took him before we were ready, but we can all rejoice in the miracle that is the resurrection of Jesus.
Dean was born to Alvern and June Kapenga at Holland Hospital on April 13, 1955. He was the middle child of five, and his siblings, Jane, Mark, Dawn, and Tom, were his best friends. They loved playing kickball, baseball, ice skating, and going on adventures.
Dean attended Longfellow Elementary. His love for music started early, influenced by his dad’s role as band director at Holland High. Dean enjoyed playing drums starting in elementary school. His passion for missions began early as well. At four years old, his family started serving with the RCA World Missions. They were assigned to different mission fields across the country. They worked at orphanages, helped migrant workers, did groundskeeping, VBS, and more.
While attending E.E. Fell for junior high, the family moved from 20th St. to the Graafschaap Area. When Dean got older, he spent many summers at his Aunt Doris and Uncle Merlin’s, where he and his cousin, Cal, would work on the dairy farm.
After graduating from Holland High, Dean attended Ferris State University, where he played football. He also attended GVSU, where he earned his degree in criminal justice. Along with his parents, Dean worked at Camp Geneva, where he met his wonderful wife, Jan Brouwer. They were married on August 8, 1975, at North Holland Reformed. They settled in Hamilton, where they raised their children.
Dean spent three decades as a police officer. He served in various roles with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, including road patrol deputy, detective, detective sergeant, supervisor of a drug enforcement team, marine division, mounted police, and more. He was twice named Deputy of the Year.
Dean was first elected to the Allegan County Board of Commissioners for District 3 in 2006 and re-elected eight times. He chaired the Allegan County Community Action Board and the county’s 911 board.
Dean served at Central Wesleyan in several different roles. He and Jan were youth group sponsors for many years. Dean led Boys’ Brigade and sang in the choir. He was on the security team and the Missions Committee. Dean was on the elder board for ten years and was chair for eight.
Dean loved people and anything involving people, including sports and anything outdoors. He loved his family, but above all, he loved Jesus and sought to follow Him continuously. Dean’s last sentiment asks for all of us to have soft hearts toward each other and the message of Jesus.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvern and June Kapenga. Dean is survived by his loving wife Jan of 49 years; children, Ben (Sarah) Kapenga, Aaron (Elizabeth) Kapenga, Daniel (Amanda) Kapenga, Rachel (Keith) Lam; 17 grandchildren; siblings, Jane (Fred) Kramer, Mark (Pam) Kapenga, Dawn (John) Lievense, Tom Kapenga; along with many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dean and Jan have a passion for missions and have served the people of Guatemala for over 20 years, building over 500 homes, serving many meals, and growing to love the people there like family. Memorial donations can be made to Central Wesleyan Church Missions to be used at Vive-Ama-Vamos (Live-Love-Go) Guatemala.
A visitation will take place on Friday, August 9 from 4:30 -7:30pm at Central Wesleyan Church (Entrance H, parking lot 5). A funeral will take place on Saturday, August 10 at 10:00am at Central Wesleyan Church (Sanctuary) with one-hour of visitation prior to the service starting at 9:00am.
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