Thomas Van Kley ’63

Thomas J. Van Kley, 79, of Zeeland, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, after a long battle with cancer.
Tom is survived by his wife, Rosalie (Rosie), his children: Brian Van Kley, Jennifer (Joshua) Wise, Matthew and Rhonda Van Kley; his step-children: Travis (Tonya) Barber, Michael Barber, Katherine (Eric) Voight, and Miranda (Joseph) Reddy; his sisters: Mardee Mott, Peggy (Larry) Busscher; mother-in-law Alaine Knoll, brother-in-law Michael (Rebecca) Knoll, 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and another on the way. Tom also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Laverne and Beatrice Van Kley, brother-in-law Phillip Mott and many aunts and uncles.
Tom spent most of his life in Zeeland. He graduated from Zeeland High and Hope College where he was pre-med. Premed wasn’t for him and Tom later joined the Air Force. He was Capt. O.I.C. of Avionics and he was stationed primarily in Thailand doing aviation maintenance and repair “”The best education I ever had.”” Tom worked in hotel/motel management for twenty years. He returned to Zeeland and raised his children. Tom worked for a short time in the car business but transitioned to working at Royal Park as head of maintenance for 19 years prior his retirement in 2014. Tom was active in his home church First Reformed Church of Zeeland. He served there as a deacon and an elder, and was a Kids Hope Mentor for the past ten years. Tom enjoyed mission work to Ecuador and Brazil and serving at many local missions.