Jim Jonker started at Jonker’s when he was less than one year old, his father John changing his diapers on the front seat of the truck. The real work began a couple of years later as he received the princely sum of 5 cents per hour for pulling weeds, not exactly his favorite job at the time. Aside from four years at college, he has spent all his working life at Jonker’s. Jim loves riding on 2 wheels - both pedal-powered and motor-powered. After a few years of phasing out, his duties now are mostly driving to pick up and deliver plants, and seeing some old cronies and new friends at each stop. He spends a large portion of his time exploring the country in his van.

Dena was Jonker’s Garden’s lead annual grower for nearly 40 years. Dena started at Jonker’s in 1983, after co-owning a garden center in Kentucky for 4 years. She mostly retired in 2021. She helps out, especially in the spring, with watering and consulting with Julie. She is busy the rest of the time practicing at being retired.

Holly was in charge of bedding plants, from seed ordering to selling, from 1994 until 2021, when she mostly retired. She currently helps out in the busiest weeks of spring and spends the rest of the year exploring the country with her husband Steve in their 5th wheel camper.

Julie worked for Frank’s Nursery and Crafts for 18 years before starting a career at Hobby Lobby. She worked after hours at Jonker’s in the springs to scratch that plant itch that she never got rid of. Dirk lured her back to work full-time at Jonker’s in 2020. She’s taken over most of Dena’s duties as the head annual greenhouse grower. As an added bonus, her son, daughter, and husband also help out during our busiest times.

Cathy has worked part-time at Jonker’s since 1995, all the while raising 4 girls and giving moral support to her husband Jim, who taught physical education at Holland West Middle School and coached football at Hope College. Her specialties are Hosta and all other shrubs and plants that love the shade. To this day you will find her in the nursery taking good care of the stock and helping folks select plants for their landscape.

Jo has been a part of the team at Jonker’s since March of 2001, but she’s been in the industry since 1979. After 17 years on the growing end of things, she moved to the pretty end, helping local florists make beautiful arrangements. Along the way, she acquired her Advanced Master Gardener and Advanced Floral Design certifications. Jo creates many of our beautiful custom pots. She’s tried retiring many times, but after considerable begging from Dirk, has always come back

Deb has helped out part-time at Jonker’s Garden since 1995. She works mostly with perennials and is on a first-name basis with our many varieties of ornamental grasses. Deb lives on the north side of Holland with her husband Gregg. When she's not at Jonker's, Deb tends to her garden and does all sorts of artsy stuff.

Nancy started helping out part-time at Jonkers in 2001 in customer service in the nursery and has been here ever since. An avid gardener, she is very knowledgeable about all sorts of trees, bushes, perennials, design, etc. She resides in South Haven with her husband Dave.

Neal (He told us to call him Neal, for Neal Armstrong, his hero) has been helping out at Jonker’s Garden since he came here from Vietnam in the early 1990s, doing everything from trash removal and recycling to grass mowing and flower planting.

His career was working full-time at Herman Miller. He bought a house and sponsored the immigration to the US of most of his family. He retired from Herman Miller in 2022 and now spends even more time helping out at Jonker’s.