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Trey VanAken A
Kind and Generous Man Grandpa
Royal to some, Royal DeWayne VanAken to others, and also known as “Royal Cat”
was born on May 25, 1940. He was born in his home to Maurine and Max
VanAken. He was the second of five children. His father was a construction worker and a
farmer. His mother was a homemaker until Max died at the age of 53, when she
went to work in a factory to support her family. Grandpa Royal went to school and grew up on a farm in a
typical small town called Camden, Michigan. As a young boy, he loved to play
baseball down on a small patch of grass with his brothers and friends. If he wasn’t playing ball, you could probably
find him rebuilding bikes. This
enthusiasm for fixing up bikes led to one of his future hobbies, fixing old
cars. After high school, he attended Michigan State University
where he met Yvonne (Bonnie) Wolover. It was love at first sight. As soon as he graduated they were married. He was 21years old. Soon after that, they
adopted three children, Dawn, Troy and Kim. I
was the first grandchild in Grandpa Royal’s family. He and my grandma enjoyed gardening and
swinging with me and my sister. He says
that my sister is most like my dad, stubborn sometimes and sweet the rest. On
November 11, 2003 my grandpa lost the love of his life. My grandma died from breast cancer. I was 7 years old. It was a miserable time for
my grandpa. After
that, my grandpa spent a lot of time buying and restoring 1955 Plymouths. This was a hobby he began when he was 16
years old and continues to enjoy it until this day. My grandpa says that a good life is having peace and
enough money to do some of the things you want to do. He has worked hard all of his life. He loves God, his family and enjoys each day
he has been given. My grandpa is a kind and generous man. I am lucky to have him as my role model and friend.
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