Lunch with Dad

Doug pays tribute this week to his wife Marcia, who was born April 30, 1937 and we lost April 16 of 2022. Doug highlights Marcia's pioneering life including her nursing career, her musical talents and the amazing job she did as a wife and mother to 4 children. The episode concludes with a recording of Marcia singing "He Giveth More Grace" accompanied by Doug. 

Doug tells Matt about all the different types of airplanes (and helicopters) that he's been on over the years, including the Spirit of St. Louis and flying with the Blue Angels. 

Doug shares some stories of his oldest daughter (and Matt's oldest sibling), Cindy Ingersoll, in celebration of her birthday on April 11th

Doug recalls an April Fool's Day prank from 1953 that didn't exactly go as planned.

Doug and Matt discuss the work of KDOL-FM, a low power non-profit station that would broadcast programming specifically for death row inmates in Livingston, Texas. 

Doug tells Matt the story of being a Spiritual Advisor to Texas death row inmate Charles Anthony Nealy, who was executed in March 20, 2007. 

Doug and Matt talk about Doug's sister Mary Beth "Betsi" (Tjapkes) Reinders, who would have turned 77 this month. 

Doug and Matt recall memories of Sunday Dinners at home over the years, from Doug's childhood to Matt's and beyond. 

Doug tells Matt some stories of former Michigan State Police Trooper Cliff Murray, who was stationed in Grand Haven when Doug owned WGHN Radio. 

Doug shares some memories with Matt about a snowmobile trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Doug and Matt share memories created with WGHN Radio, which Doug owned from 1964-83 and Matt worked at from 2011-18. 

Doug and Matt share memories of Doug's Mom, Mary (Trapp) Tjapkes, affectionately known as Grammy

Doug tells Matt the story of how he met Ron Smeenge, the founder of Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, now known as All Shores Wesleyan. 

Doug and Matt discuss the unexpected friendship Doug shared with John Smietanka (June 28, 1941 – October 28, 2025

Doug tells Matt about some mischief that occurred on Halloween of 1965 in downtown Grand Haven. 

Doug and Matt recall the three months of freedom enjoyed by Maurice Carter

Matt hears the story of Doug and his friend Bill Mouw customizing a 1936 Chevy Sedan and the misadventures that followed

Doug shares a story with Matt about the time he reported a story that went national, only to discover it wasn't true. 

Doug tells Matt the story of his wedding to Marcia in 1957

Doug tells Matt the story of how he broke into the radio business

Doug tells Matt some stories about Doug's dad, John Tjapkes

Doug and Matt remember attending a Chicago Cubs game in September of 1986 that included a visit with Harry Caray. 

Matt asks Doug about memories of the Coast Guard Festival, an annual one-week event in Grand Haven that takes place in late July/Early August each year. 

Doug shares with Matt a number of memories surrounding the date July 24th, which happens to be Matt's Birthday and the anniversary of the day Maurice Carter was freed from prison thanks in part to 10 years of work by Doug. 

Matt and Doug shares memories of their annual trips to Glen Lake Trailer Park in Empire, Michigan. 

Doug tells the story of how his father-in-law, Phil Keessen, used to blow up paint cans to celebrate the 4th of July. 

Doug tells Matt the story of his first radio show, Calling All Kids.

Doug recalls memories of growing up during World War 2 and how different the observance of Memorial Day was when he was growing up vs. today. 

Doug tells Matt about all four of his collector Studebakers that he has driven in the annual Fruitport Old Fashioned Days Parade on Memorial Day. 

Doug and Matt recall memories of Dr. John Mulder, a great friend, doctor and musician who recently passed away

Doug shares the story of a beer with a friend led to his church, then known as Ferrysburg CRC, acquiring d the land the church is currently built on

Doug shares stories from when he was a radio reporter and used to catch a ride with the funeral home directors, who ran and operated the ambulance service back then!

Doug shares memories of Easter from when he was a child in Muskegon to a young reporter in Holland and then through his time in Grand Haven. 

Matt and Doug share memories from the spring of 1994, when they flew to Florida and drove a car back. The catch - Matt had a learners permit and had not yet learned to drive a manual. 

Doug shares a story from 1995 when he and his nephew Tom Kuiper flew to Spokane, Washington and drove back a 1957 Studebaker Pick-Up that he bought without ever seeing it first. 

As winter wraps up, Doug shares memories of taking out snowmobiles around West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Doug honors the memory of his friend Frederick (Fritz) Kolk and we close with a song from His Men, a men's chorus that Doug and Fritz helped create

In honor of Black History Month, Doug shares memories of a number of black musicians who have impacted his life, including the Cleveland Colored Quartet, The Heavenly Echoes, The Spiritualaires, Cathy Barrow, Jim Bolden Alma Perry, The James Family Singers including Ben Reynolds and Asonja James, Charsie Sawyer, and the Fairfield Four. 

Doug shares his role in helping keep the Grand Haven community safe during "The Great Blizzard of 1978" that occurred in late January

Doug shares memories of a Michigan tradition - snow sledding (or is it sliding?)

Doug shares the special Christmas memories he has from growing up

Doug shares memories of Thanksgiving over the years, both the fun times and working through difficult times 

Doug shares what it was like covering elections and delivering election results as a radio news broadcaster in his early career 

Doug shares his experiences as he learned to drive while growing up in Muskegon

Doug shares more about what the family grocery store in Muskegon was like in the 40s and 50s

Some stories from Doug about life growing up in the 40s and 50s. 

An introduction to our podcast Lunch with Dad, hosted by Matt Tjapkes and featuring Doug. Dad's in his late 80s and I want to save as many of his memories as possible.