John Kooistra Jr.

John Kooistra, Jr., 89, of Little Rock, died on Sunday, March 13, 2016. He was born in McAllen, Texas to the late John Kooistra Sr. and Willie Morris Kooistra. During the depression, John and his parents lived in various places in Arkansas, including Prescott, Fayetteville, Batesville and later, Little Rock, his home for over 60 years. After graduating from Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, he served in the United States Navy during World War II. Upon his return from the Navy, he attended and graduated from Little Rock Junior College, now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He began his career as a real estate agent shortly thereafter, working for Weaver & Associates and Block Realty. While a real estate agent, he began pursuit of an appraisal license and became an appraiser for the Federal Housing Administration. He later obtained an M.A.I. designation and was the first appraiser to do work for the Little Rock Urban Renewal program. In 1961, he elected to pursue a career as a mortgage banker. He joined Modern American Mortgage Corporation where he became Executive Vice President and head of the origination and servicing divisions. While at Modern American, he attended and graduated from the Northwestern University School of Mortgage Banking. Later in his career, he became President of First Commercial Mortgage Company, overseeing all mortgage banking operations. He completed his career as President of Savers Mortgage Corporation and focused his work on commercial and multifamily projects throughout the United States. He retired from Savers Mortgage in 1986. John is survived by his wife, Jimmie Dee (Pryor) Kooistra and his son, John Kooistra III and his wife, Martha Ann, all of Little Rock. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Ann Marie Gray and her husband, Alex of Little Rock; grandson, John Samuel Kooistra of Tucson, Arizona; and two great-granddaughters, Ann Elizabeth Gray and Margaret Gray, both of Little Rock. John was a Methodist, a Razorback football fan, dog lover and an avid reader. He will be missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Evangelical Alliance for Immigration Counseling, Samaritan's Purse, or a favorite charity. Services will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 10 a.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), officiated by Rev. Steve Sanford. Visitation will follow at the funeral home. Burial will be private at Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. John's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.