Walter E. Huizenga, age 76, passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father on October 7, 2025, at his

home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, holding the hand of his wife, Mary.

Born on March 16, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, Walter was the son of Elmer and Estelle Huizenga.

Walter was a lifelong learner and deeply valued education. He earned a Bachelor's degree in History

(1971) and a Master of Business Administration (1972) from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a

Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia (1974), and a Master of Laws in Taxation from

Georgetown University (1976).

Before beginning his law career, Walter served as a United Methodist circuit preacher in the St. Louis

area, sharing his deep faith and compassion with the congregations he served. That experience of

ministry, rooted in empathy and service, shaped the integrity and leadership he carried throughout his

professional life.

He began his legal career as a law clerk for Senior Judge Marvin Jones of the United States Court of

Claims and went on to the leadership roles of chief counsel with the National Automobile Dealers

Association (NADA) and general counsel for The General Group of Companies. From 1985 to 1989, he

also served as president of General Risk Management Corporation in Harbor City, California.

In 1989, Walter joined the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) in

Alexandria, Virginia, where he served as executive vice president, president, and chief operating officer

through 2003. During this time, Walter was recognized nationally for his leadership and contributions to

the automotive industry, appearing on Meet the Press, C-SPAN, and other national forums. He was

named among the top 50 industry leaders by Washingtonian magazine in 1994 and honored as a 1995

Automotive News All-Star. His leadership and service were further recognized when he was listed as a

noteworthy trade association executive by Marquis Who's Who.

In 2003, Walter and Mary relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as Chief Operating

Officer of three new-vehicle automobile dealerships until his retirement in 2025. While he loved cars

and the automobile industry, he loved more than anything the people he was honored to work with and

serve.

Walter cherished time with family, friends, and his rescue pups. He loved music, baseball, classic cars,

and old movies, and especially enjoyed sharing these passions with those around him. Walter's wit and

wisdom will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; his sister, MaryEllen Walter, and her husband, Don; nephews Tom and his wife, Nicole, and Russ and his wife, Sarah; grandniece Charlotte; and cousin, Sandy Anderson. Through marriage, he was blessed with Courtney and Brian Yarch and their children, Denia, Carter, and Alexa; Aaron Tabor and his children, AJ and Arianna; and Calder and Cassie Baker.

A celebration of his life will be held at Cascade Fellowship Christian Reformed Church (6655 Cascade

Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546) on Thursday, October 16 (visitation at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00

a.m., lunch to follow). Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery East (2530 Kalamazoo Ave SE,

Grand Rapids, MI 49507).

Memorials may be made to the Mayo Clinic or Samaritan's Purse , reflecting Walter's generous spirit,

faith, and lifelong commitment to helping others.