John Jacob Bosma passed away on August 12, 2026. John was born on September 20, 1936 in the Netherlands to Jacob and Florence Bosma (Hiemstra). John was the third of seven children.

Following the German occupation during World War II, the family resolved to pack up their belongings and start a new life across the ocean. John was 15 years old when the family moved, originally settling in Byron Center, Michigan on a 40 acre farm. John graduated from Calvin College with an education degree and was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army.

It was through fellow serviceman Martin Zylstra that John met the love of his life. Asking about his younger sister Donna may have been awkward, but John was not dissuaded. John and Donna were married in December of 1963, settling down in Artesia, California. John felt called to a career in public accounting and worked as a CPA in Long Beach into his mid 40’s. During this time, their children Jeff, Susan, and Brian were born.

John had become a partner at the accounting firm and was by any measure living a comfortable life in California. But like his parents before him, he was not afraid to make a big move to a new life. John and Donna purchased a small dairy farm in Outlook, Washington and moved the family in 1981. The farm grew and John was able to work with his sons for many years. John was also a long time board member at Darigold, a job he took very seriously.

John was a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He attended the Christian Reformed Church and John was a staunch supporter of Christian education. He served in many roles over the years, supporting the school with his time and resources. He believed in the analogy of the three legged stool: Home, Church, School. Each leg strengthens and reinforces the other.

John and Donna had many friends and enjoyed vacationing with them or just getting together to play cards. John’s serious side belied his sense of humor, and ability to find humor in nearly any situation. He was drawn to people with a zest for life and an adventurous spirit, a quality he most assuredly possessed himself.

John was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Donna in 2019. John is survived by his three children: Jeff Bosma (Tina) of Outlook, Susan Dieleman (Jeff) of Selah, and Brian Bosma (Candace) of Sunnyside, eleven grand children: John Bosma (Callie), Hilari Berry (Matt), Brant Bosma and Cade Bosma, Kyle Dieleman (Savannah), Justin Dieleman and Carson Dieleman, Madison Werkhoven (Alex), Blaze Bosma, Dash Bosma and Violet Bosma, and four great grand children: Wrenley Bosma and Baylor Bosma, Zoe Berry and Mia Berry.