Gardner Jack Klaasen

In the early morning of April 24, 2025, a few weeks past his 82nd birthday and a few weeks before his 25th wedding anniversary, Gardner Klaasen stopped breathing. It was a very bright and very starry night. Gardner Jack Klaasen was born March 29, 1943 in Holland, Michigan to Jack and Hilda Fern (Plaggemars) Klaasen. He grew up in a time when children roamed more freely than they do today, and he knew every pond, marsh, creek, and stream in Ottawa county. He felt like he owned each and every one of them. According to his mother, “He was a hard one to bring up.” Gardner graduated from Holland High School (barely), joined the Navy, and never looked back. He worked long hours at computer start-ups, moved up and down the east coast, finally returning to Michigan and settling in a small house on Rose Street in Traverse City with his wife Janice (Kalkman). They shared many happy years raising their sons, Trevor and Gardy. Although Gardner was known for building one house bigger than the last, try as he did, he could never identify the first house on Rose Street, no matter how many times he searched for it. Gardner worked hard and took risks. Most of them paid off, some of them did not. He owned construction equipment companies, oil field supply companies, and his most recent work was in the marketing of large industrial cranes along with his son, Trevor. He was a believer in affordable housing way before its time and developed subdivisions in Wexford, Benzie, and Grand Traverse counties. He lived his life IN ALL CAPS. He was big. He had big hands, a big head, and a big heart. He filled the doorway. He filled the room. He filled our lives. He made his children feel like they were the biggest dream come true. He is survived by his wife Bridget, children Gardner Klaasen II, Trevor and Holly (Harenberg) Klaasen, Ian and Clare (Schaljo) Plamondon, and Aimee and Brooks Bunbury; grandchildren Campbell, and Grayson; and beloved (albeit oversized) Airedale Annabelle. He will be remembered as Big Papa to Betsie Louise Bunbury (born February 8) who will only know what we tell her about him. We will make it good – he loved a big story about himself. Whether in business or in relationships or (finally) in health, Gardner always got back on his feet. Until this time, he didn’t. At this time, the family looks forward to a small, private gathering where they can commit to staying together, because that is the way he would want it.

Gardner Jack Klaasen

March 29, 1943 - April 24, 2025