Henry 'Hank' Wiersma, 71

Henry "Hank" Wiersma died at Kalispell Regional Hospital of pneumonia Tuesday, March 28, 2007. He was born July 17, 1935, in Chicago, the son of John and Genevieve Wiersma and the brother of June Taylor, John Wiersma, Carol Joldersma and Mick Wiersma.

He graduated from Chicago Christian High School in 1953.

He married Mary Margaret Richards in Manhattan, Kan., on Nov. 10, 1959.

Hank was an entrepreneur and businessman. He was well-known for his flattop haircut, Cheshire cat grin, quick wit and mischievous sense of humor.

He was an artist, a craftsman and poet, and in all things, he loved to make people laugh.

He served in the Army from 1958 to 1960 and then started an appliance repair business, Always Ready Repair, in the Chicago-land area. In 1972, the family moved to Kalispell, where he started another business, Answer Auction Service. After selling that business, he started Grade A Landscaping in 1977, which he operated until his death.

He is survived by his wife and their four children and their spouses, Jim and Beverlee Ludema of Geneva, Ill., Bruce and Leah Wiersma, and Edward and Barbra Morgan, all of Kalispell, and Brian and Jill Wiersma of Nashville, Tenn. Other survivors include all his siblings and eight grandchildren, Christina, Michael and Nicole Ludema, Benjamin, Aaron, Breanna and Amanda Wiersma, and Jelani Morgan.

The funeral service for Hank will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Faith Covenant Presbyterian Church, 611 Third Ave. E., with the Rev. Lloyd Pearson officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today, March 30, at Johnson Mortuary and the family will be present.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Hank's family.