Gregory L.

Tjapkes Sr.

Gregory Lee Tjapkes SR. Gregory Lee Tjapkes was born in Muskegon, Michigan to Marvin Gerald and Mary Lou Tjapkes on July 1, 1957. He was the third of what would be 9 children. He attended Muskegon High School and then obtained his GED and enlisted in the Army. He was a union electrician by trade. He married Diane Jmian of Muskegon. They had 1 son Jason Tjapkes (Jody) of Orem, Utah. He married Raellen Fletcher in 1983. They had 2 children - Gregory Lee Jr., (Denell) of Muskegon and Robin Dawes (Brian) of Muskegon and a step son, Scott. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing. Later in life, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and went blind. In late October, he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. He was admitted to hospice and passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021. Survivors include 3 brothers - Chris (Susan) of Muskegon, Scott of Norton Shores and Bradley (Karen) of Knoxville, Tennessee and 3 sisters - Tracy Battle of Baldwin, Lisa Zoulek (Tony) of Baldwin, and Tammy Tjapkes of St. Petersburg, Florida, and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Terry and a sister Cynthia, 2 nephews, Jeremy and Eric, and a niece, Rachael.