Christopher Paul Yonkers

Hastings â?? Detective Deputy Chris Yonkers, age 43, died Friday, October 17th, 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Chris was raised in the Hastings area and attended Thornapple Kellogg Schools (1983). In 1984 he married Kari Brown, enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the 82nd Airborne Division as a combat medic. Chris returned home to Michigan and established Yonkers General Contracting where he was a residential home builder for 7 years. He then attended Grand Valley State University for a Criminal Justice degree and went on to become GVSUâ??s police academy assistant director. Chris and Kari were blessed with 5 amazing children. During this time, Chris was employed by the Barry County Sheriffâ??s Department and was currently assigned as an undercover narcotics officer to the Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET). His remarkable passion and drive earned him titles and certifications too numerous to mention. A friend to all, a great story-teller, and a gifted craftsman who created a beautiful home for his family, he will be sorely missed. Visitation will be held held at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8pm and Funeral services will be held at the Barry County Expo on Thursday October 23, 2008 at 1:00pm. He is preceded in death by his father, Tom Yonkers, and is survived by his mother, Patricia Thiery, wife, Kari, and their 5 children, Anna (17), Christian (15), Isacc (14) Lydia (11), and Levi (10), sisters Taleese Yonkers,and Trena Yonkers-Talz, half brother, Mathew Yonkers, paternal grandparents Lester and Virginia Yonkers of Lake Odessa, maternal grandfather Nick Thiery and nieces Sophia,Grace and Hanna Yonkers-Talz. Memorials can be made to Christopher Yonkers Family Fund C/O any branch of Hastings City Bank. Arrangements are by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. You may leave a message or memory to the family at (girrbachfuneralhome.net). \r