Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc.
P.O. Box 805, Grandville, MI 49468-0805
Mike Burri 616.299.7321 Beverly Summers 616.363.8105 Rich Straub 616.318.8664 Don Kramer 616.534.5524
Bob Becker 616.874.7403 Bob Bianchi 616.647.3256 Don Campbell 616.457.1836
WITH SUPPORT THAT NEVER ENDS
Our Volunteers
 | President: Rich enlisted in the United States Army in August, 1967 and served in Viet Nam from January, 1968 until being wounded on October 8, 1968. He was a member of Company A, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry, 25th Division Mechanized M114 with the rank of E4. Rich was Honorably Discharged from active duty in November, 1969 and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was State Commander of the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) from 1991-1992. He serves on the Kent County Veterans Trust Fund and is the DAV Hospital Chairman for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Rich graduated from Bear Lake High School. He and his wife have three sons. | ||||||
 | Vice President: Donald Kramer 231 50th St. SW Wyoming, MI 49548 616.534.5524 Don served 18 years as a Boatswains Mate 1st Class (E6) in the United States Navy. He survived two tours in Viet Nam as Commander of a high speed (PBR) Gunboat. Don was wounded twice. Two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star are among the 18 medals he earned. Don spent two years in United States Naval Hospitals recovering from injuries received in Viet Nam. He is retired from the United States Postal Service after working 31 years in the Maintenance Department. Upon retiring, Don became a full-time volunteer (six days a week) at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. He is Commander of Chapter 91 Military Order of the Purple Heart as well as being State Chaplain for Chapter 91 Military Order of the Purple Heart. Don was awarded Patriot of the Year for the state of Michigan Military Order of the Purple Heart as well as being awarded Kent County's 2008 Veteran of the Year! Thank you, Don! We salute you! | ||||||
 | Treasurer: Don was born March 17, 1940 in Dayton, Kentucky. He graduated Dayton High School in 1958. Enlisted in the U.S. Army 1958 to 1961 and was stationed in Panama Canal Zone, David, Panama and 20 months in Honduras where he maintained the L-19 aircraft and H-13 helcopter. College was Easter Kentucky State College. Don graduated with a Bachelor of Science in January 1965. Employed by the Internal Revenue Service from 1965 to 1998, Don retired as Examination Group Manager. The last ten years he's been employed by the law firm of Rhoades Mckee as a tax consultant. He is self-employed preparing current income tax returns. Married to Denise Campbell and between the two of them they have six children. My two sons served in the Army and my son-in-law is a Coast Guard officer flying helcopters. | ||||||
 | Adjutant: Michael Burri 2062 Woodshire PL. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 616.299.7321 miburri@aol.com Michael Burri served in the United States Army Military Police at Fort Hood from 1969 - 1971. Mike is Commander of the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard; Junior Vice Commander Kent County United Veterans Council; and Secretary for Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc., as well as being a founding member of this organization. He has been honored with the 2009 Kent County Veteran of the Year. Mike is a recipient of the American Red Cross Community Hero's Award. He organized a drive to collect shoes for children of Iraqi orphanages. This project overflowed with love as generous people gave and gave. Mike was able to send to those Iraqi children 6,000 pairs of shoes and 15,000 blankets and baby outfits. Mike coordinated the 4,000 Veterans who lined the Bridge to pay tribute to President Gerald R. Ford as the President's funeral cortege passed. He raised $42,000 for the Operation Iraqi Freedom Monument in Veterans Park at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Mike also raised $30,000 and volunteered all construction labor of the All-American Grill Project located at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. has just been awarded a $50,000 grant from the M.E. Davenport Foundation due to Mike's submitting the request for funding and following through. $35,000 of this generous gift will be used at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans to upgrade living space for our veterans, and $15,000 will be given to D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette for the same purpose. Thank you, Mike! We salute you! | ||||||
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 | Director: Beverly was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Immediately after graduating from high school, she joined the United States Air Force. Beverly utilized the GI Bill to purchase a home. She continued her schooling earning an Associates Degree in Hotel/Casino Mangement and a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration/Paralegal Certificate. Beverly retired from Amway Grand Plaza Hotel after 22 years of service. She and her husband have a blended family of 7 children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Beverly has served as Chairman on committees for high school class reunions; is Secretary for the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table; is Senior Vice President for Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW) and serves as the hospital Chairperson representing DUVCW to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. She is a founding member of Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. and is active in all aspects of the organization. Volunteering at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans since 2004, Beverly has participated with our Veterans in fishing tournaments, poker tournaments, hay rides, casino trips, golf outings, baseball outings, bingo games, and the annual carnival. She decorates the cemetery for Memorial Day, gives tours for school children through the historical cemetery, helps with the Halloween trick-or-treating, helps with the Christmas present distribution, and lends a hand at funerals. Beverly enjoys talking, visiting and assisting our Veterans. Thank you, Beverly! We salute you! | ||||||
 | Director: Bob Becker 4144 Cannon Hills Ct. NE Ada, MI 49301 616.874.7403 Bob Becker is a former Air Force Staff Sergeant. He is Adjutant for American Legion Post 311, a member of the West Michigan Veterans Honor Guard and also of the Combined Veterans Council of West Michigan. Bob retired two years ago (in 2007) after working 31 years as Sports Editor at the Grand Rapids Press, Michigan's third largest daily newspaper. He was elected to the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Bob is married, has three children and seven grandchildren. Thank you, Bob! We salute you! | ||||||
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 | Chaplain: Robert Bianchi 4815 Heidi Ave. NW Comstock Park, MI 49321 616.647.3256 Bob, who will be 84 years young this coming December 1, 2011, served in the United States Navy SeaBees during WWII. He was past Commander of American Legion Post 258 and was honored with a Gold Card from Post 258. He was past Commander of United Veterans Council which included organizing the parades for approximately ten years. Bob was awarded the Kent County Veteran of the Year - 1995 and was awarded the Michigan Veteran of the Year - 1996. Catholic War Veterans chose Bob for Veteran of the Year - 2000. He was Department Commander for the Catholic War Veterans from 2001 through 2006 and is presently their Field Service Officer. He is a founding member of Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc., serving as its President from 2007 until summer of 2009. Thank you, Bob! We salute you!
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