Gary Dean Imhoff

Gary Dean Imhoff, age 69, resident of Hudsonville Michigan, passed from the loving arms of his wife, Marla, with the presence of his beloved children, into the Eternal Loving Arms of Jesus Christ His Lord and Savior on February 4, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clare and Martha Imhoff. He is survived by his wife, Marla, of 42 years, and his three children, Garrett Imhoff, Abigail (Justin), Grala, and Jonna (Patrick) Elkins, and two grandsons, Ishmael and Asher Elkins. He has one living sister, Nancy Pollock (Chris), of White Lake, Michigan, and his niece, Kaitlyn Pollock. 

Gary grew up in the Greater Detroit areas of Inkster, Livonia, and West Bloomfield. 

He began his career working as a professional draftsman out of his college years with McClurg and Associates, and later hired on in his father's firm named T. Rogvoy & Associates in Southfield Michigan. He later worked for Architects and Engineers in the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids areas before stepping out on his own offering professional drafting services in 1995.  

Gary deserves the accolades for his portion of the drawing of the Pontiac Silverdome, which at that time was done by hand, and he was also still fresh, but very talented, in his career. Eventually he transitioned in his profession as a draftsman over the years with an expertise as a CAD Operator (Computer Aided Drafting). 

Gary was constantly learning and self-taught on many levels including his most recent endeavor of learning Revit and BIM 3D Modeling on CAD the last several years. 

In his profession, Gary accumulated a vast experience and expertise creating the working drawings for projects across the country including complex parking decks and various building types. He's drawn retail and commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, churches, restaurants, residential homes, and precast metal buildings to name only a few. Some of his GR area works include the Kirkhoff Center (an addition done at GVSU), and the Ray and Joan Kroc Center.

In his youth, Gary took up motorcycles, hang gliding, and cool cars. His first car was a limited-edition Dodge Charger. He was also a competitive swimmer in his school and came from a family of skiers. His Dad was a National Ski Patrol Instructor and Gary also loved the sport and was a very good skier. But after he married Marla, he settled in to provide for and raise his family. Gary was a hard worker, but loved what he did and never felt like he worked a job.

Gary loved God and His Word and he continually shined his light for others to see through his everyday life and work. He was and is a true worshipper and greatly loved to share the Gospel.

Gary sat in God's presence daily, he meditated in God's Word, he muttered it under his breath. He would regularly recite the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Gary became it. Gary had deep emotions that for a long time he didn't think he could feel, but God healed Gary's bruised emotions by the power of His Word.

Gary had a joyful and grateful heart. He appreciated and rejoiced in each new day and loved the beauty of God's creation. He loved worship music and a variety of music genres that included brass, piano, drums, and stringed instruments. He was especially fond of jazz.

Gary loved spending time with his family. One activity that spilled over from his youth was downhill skiing at Boyne Highlands, a blessing that was a courtesy of Gary's parents beginning when the children were small. Gary personally taught each of his children to ski, and his wife, Marla. Those were fun times because Boyne also has a heated outdoor pool that you could swim in in the winter and a hot tub and steam room the family loved.

When his children were younger he loved to rumble with them and taught them to play hide and seek by using their arms and legs to hoist themselves up near the ceiling between wall spaces. They learned to scale the heights! And on most Fridays, from the time his children were small through teenagers, Gary most often gathered the family for pizza, ice cream and movie nights.

Gary loved all children and always told people he was the biggest kid in the room when he helped with any kids activities in church settings.

As mentioned, Gary loved wholesome movies, including family movies, especially Pixar and Claymation films, action films, science fiction, documentaries and classics. He loved the Spartans, (no judgement). He loved cards (he was too good at Euchre) and other games. The whole family learned a lot of card game tricks from Gary's finesse! How we love the memories of his winning strategies!! He also continued to love and enjoy outdoor activities with his family. 

Gary loved walking in warmer weather, riding bikes, and the last few years renewed his passion for motorcycles, especially Harleys. Gary loved to test out different bikes on demo rides. He especially loved riding motorcycles with his son in law (and wife, Marla) and had several wonderful and memorable outings last summer and fall of 2021. 

Gary was Marla's beloved and loved his wife the way only true love can express, ever faithful, patient, generous, affectionate, appreciative and kind. She knew she was loved! He adored his children and grandchildren, thinking of them and praying for them continually. 

There are so many things to speak of to describe Gary's life and personality. He carried a bright and larger than life energy, he was full of God's love for others, and words used to describe him by many are that he was a wonderful man, kind, thoughtful, considerate, meticulous and given to detail, and excellent in whatever he did. He was a very creative and intelligent individual. In many ways, Gary was an elegant man; polite, courteous, considerate, clean, and thoughtful. He approved of excellent standards on multiple levels. He was careful to understand circumstances and knew how to adapt appropriately to situations because he was wise and discerning. He also loved America and her founding values. 

One of the remarkable things about Gary was his incredible servant's heart.  He blessed his wife Marla on a daily basis with an ever cheerful willingness to help out in any way he could. He had the same attitude with his family, his clients, and to anyone he could help. He looked for ways to be helpful even if it was an inconvenience to himself. He found ways to serve righteous causes such as using his professional skills to do work at no charge for the Pregnancy Resource Center in Grand Rapids. He was a rare person in many ways.

Gary often prayed, asking God about his calling and how he could use him for the kingdom of God as he sat in his office working. A friend of Gary's referred to 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV) as his observation of Gary's life: "... you should make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands just as we told you so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." Gary certainly did these things and he won the admiration of the people who knew him.

Sometimes we think our lives are not important; this is not true. Everything we do is important, our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions, how we treat people. Gary taught us by example.

"But the path of the just us like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day " Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV)

"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him." Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV)

We greatly grieve our loss but rejoice that Gary is with His Lord ! 

Visitation and light refreshments with the family will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Georgetown Christian Fellowship, 3668 Port Sheldon St. Hudsonville, MI 49426, from 10:30am to 11:30am and will transition into the Celebration of Life Memorial Service from Noon to 1:15pm

The family is asking that if possible, friends planning to attend RSVP at their FB Group Page called "Gary Imhoff's CoVid Story".

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2579106408900723/permalink/2592201617591202/

Flowers or floral arrangements may be delivered to VanderLaan Funeral Home on Friday February 18, 2022, at 4917 32nd Ave, Hudsonville, MI 49426.