Jack Edward Veenstra

Jack Edward Veenstra, age 53, of Santa Clara, CA went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 7, 2015, after a 5-month struggle with leukemia. He was born April 4, 1961, in Grand Rapids, MI, the second of three children born to Maurice and Nell Veenstra. After being valedictorian of his high school class, Jack graduated from Calvin College with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. He enjoyed teasing his parents and sisters with questions like, "what do you think the probability of.....would be if...." His oncologist wanted him to drop out of college for a term when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, but he refused and graduated with his class. Always a learner, Jack obtained a MS from University of Illinois, and another MS and PhD from University of Rochester, NY. He enjoyed his career in Silicon Valley as a Senior Software Engineer. Jack was always interested in life, and loved learning. He liked music, singing, chess and other challenging board games. His friends were often entertained by his magic card tricks. He will be greatly missed. Jack is survived by his wife Laura, whom he loved dearly, his dear children, Brianna age 13, Jason age 10; his parents; his sisters, Julie (Timothy) VandenBos, and Linda German; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Scot German. We will celebrate Jack's life and all that he meant to us with a Memorial Service on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, 728 West Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale, California. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack's honor to Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, or to World Renew.