Henry and Cornelia Commissaris

Cornelia (Vande Biezen) Commissaris was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 25, 1923 and died September 23, 2016. She was the eldest daughter of Cornelius and Effie (Kiel) Vande Biezen. Henry Commissaris was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 16, 1921 and died March 31, 2015. He was the son of Peter and Rose (Linsley) Commissaris. Henry attended Vicksburg High School in Vicksburg, Michigan while Corky schooled at a one-room schoolhouse hear her home in Scotts, Michigan. Corky and Henry both enjoyed roller skating and met at a roller Rink. They married on February 15, 1942 in Valparaiso, Indiana. Henry had worked at Michigan Bell Telephone since 1940 and enlisted in the Navy in December of 1942. He served during World War II and was discharged in 1945. Corky did her part for the war effort by working at various military suppliers in the Kalamazoo area. They both lived the earlier part of their lives in the Kalamazoo area among their relatives and friends. She enjoyed sewing, crafts, camping and generally all things associated with raising a family. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and generally all things out of doors. She was truly a caring, nurturing, and involved wife and mother while he was truly a warm and loving husband, father, and friend. He always had something funny to quip about. Corky was a Cub Scout den leader while Henry was a Boy Scout troop leader and then scoutmaster. They were active in The Reformed Church. After visiting Corky’s sister in California in 1959, they uprooted the family and moved to California in 1961. In post-retirement years, they managed a mobile home park in Redlands, California. They were enthusiastic bowlers and traveled extensively in their motor home. They moved to Birch Bay, Washington in 2008 and then to Tigard, Oregon in 2012. Corky was preceded in death by her brothers; Cornelius (Casey) and Edwin, and sisters; Dorothy and Margaret. Henry was preceded in death by his brothers; Clarence, George, Harold, and Robert, and sisters; Doris Grainger, Esther Sehy, and Jane Allen. Survivors include: Sons: Michael James (Pamela), Tigard, OR; Harold William (Judy), Blaine, WA; Carlton (Rayleen), Anaheim, CA. Corky’s sisters: Maryanna Emmert, Bloomingdale, MI; Ruthann Luce, Portage, MI. Henry’s sister-in-law; Erma Commissaris, Michigan. Many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even ten great, great grandchildren abound. A graveside service will be held Friday, August 25, 2017, 1 PM at Tucker Cemetery, Bloomingdale, MI, Pastor Danny Gardner officiating. Arrangements by the Bloomingdale Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home.

Henry and Cornelia Commissaris

August 1, 2017