Memorial Verses and Poems

At Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home we create one of a kind memorial folders, holy cards, bulletins, and other printed keepsakes that can be passed out to family and friends at the visitation, services, or even mailed out to those who could not attend in person. Here is a brief list of some of the memorial verses that we have collected. To read our complete collection, please call the funeral home at (231) 947-6347.Families are encouraged to use something more personal: perhaps a song would be appropriate, or a famous quote that their loved one always said, a verse of scripture, or even a humorous story. Thank you. 

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me

to be a happy one,

I’d like to leave an after glow

of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo

whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times, laughing times,

and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve,

to dry before the sun,

Of happy memories that I leave,

when life is done.

-Carol Mirkel

Comfort

Another leaf has fallen,

Another soul has gone

But still we have God’s promises

In every robin’s song;

For He is in His Heaven

And though He takes away

He always leaves to mortals

The bright sun’s kindly ray.

He leaves the fragrant blossoms

And lovely forests, green,

And gives us new found comfort

When we on Him will lean.

-Franklin Lee Stevenson

Every blade in the field,

Every leaf in the forest

Lays down its life in its season

As beautifully as

It was taken up.

-Henry David Thoreau

Fill Not

Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow,

But remember me in every tomorrow.

Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,

I’ve only gone to rest a little while.

Although my leaving causes pain and grief,

My going has eased my hurt and given me relief.

So dry your eyes and remember me,

Not as I am now, but as I used to be.

Because, I will remember you all

And look on with a smile.

Understand in your hearts,

I’ve only gone to rest a little while.

As long as I have the love of each of you,

I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.

Footprints

One night I had a dream. I was walking along

the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed

scenes from my life. In each scene I noticed two sets

of footprints in the sand. One was mine, and one

was the Lord’s.

When the last scene of my life appeared before

me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and

to my surprise I noticed that many times along the

path of my life and there was only one set of footprints.

And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest

times of my life.

I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that

once I decided to follow you, you would walk with

me all the way. But I noticed that during the most

troublesome times of my life there is only one set of

footprints. I don’t understand why you left my side

when I needed you most.”

The Lord replied, “My precious child, I love you

and would never leave you. During your times of

trial and suffering, where you see only one set of

footprints, I was carrying you.

God Looked

God Looked Around His Garden

And He Found An Empty Place.

He Then Looked Down Upon This Earth

And Saw Your Tired Face,

He Put His Arms Around You

And Lifted You To Rest.

God’s Garden Must Be Beautiful

He Always Takes The Best.

He Knew That You Were Suffering

He Knew You Were In Pain

He Knew That You Would Never

Get Well On Earth Again

He Saw That The Road Was Getting Rough,

And The Hills Were Hard To Climb.

So He Closed Your Weary Eyelids,

And Whispered ‘Peace Be Thine’

It Broke Our Hearts To Lose You

But You Didn’t Go Alone

For Part Of Us Went With You

The Day God Called You Home.

Good-Bye For Now

I can’t believe that you are really gone now,

Seems like it’s all just a dream.

How can it be that the world will go on,

When something has died within me.

Leaves will turn, my eyes will burn with colors for you.

Snow will fall, but I will recall your warmth.

Summer wind, breathing in your memory,

I will miss you.

I can’t imagine my life without you.

You held a place all your own.

Just knowing you were beneath the same sky,

Oh what a joy I have known.

On rainy days, in many ways you’ll water my heart.

On starry nights I will glimpse the light of your smile.

Never far from my heart, you’ll stay with me, so I’ll wait.

But there will be a time when I’ll see your face

and I’ll hear your voice and there we will laugh again

and there will be a day when I’ll hold you close

no more tears, cause we’ll have forever

He only takes the best

God saw you were getting tired,

a cure was not to be.

So he put his arms around you and

whispered, “Come with me”.

With tearful eyes we watched you

suffer and saw you fade away.

Although we loved you

we could not make you stay

A golden heart stopped beating,

creative mind to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to usHE ONLY TAKES THE BEST

I am not there

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow,

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rain,

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,

I am in the graceful rush

Of birds in circling flight.

I am the star shine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room,

I am the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I did not die.

-Mary Frye

Treasured Seasons

For everything there is

an appointed season,

And a time for everything

under heaven –

A time for sharing,a time for caring.

A time for loving,a time for giving.

A time for remembering,

a time for parting.

You have made everything

beautiful in its time

For everything You do

remains forever.

I'm Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call.

I turned my back and I left it all.

I could not stay another day.

To laugh, to love, to work, to play

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I’ve found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with a remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.

Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts and share with me,

God wanted me now; He set me free.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free.

Miss me a little – but not too long

And not with your head bowed low,

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me – but let me go.

For this journey that we all must take

And each must go alone,

It’s all a part of the Master’s plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me – but let me go.

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined,

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In the way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,

Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth –

You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

What Cancer Can’t Do

Cancer is so Limited

It cannot Cripple Love

It cannot Shatter Hope

It cannot Corrode Faith

It cannot Destroy Peace

It cannot Kill Friendship

It cannot Destroy Memories

It cannot Silence Courage

It Cannot Invade the Soul

It cannot Destroy Eternal Life

It cannot Conquer the Spirit

~ Source Unknown