Local 21 Illinois Retiree Counts Union Blessings

After 50 years of laying brick in and around Chicago, Ken Hoesktra and his wife Elizabeth moved to rural Western Michigan’s Georgetown Township to be near their children and grandchildren. While the transition from working to retired life can sometimes be a difficult one, the Local 21 Illinois member and contractor credits secure retirement benefits for helping to ease the way into a new lifestyle, which appears to be just as active and varied as his previous one.

Local 21 IL member/contractor Ken Hoesktra enjoys an active retirement.

“I worked as a member, and then, for the next 30 years, ran my company, Ken Hoesktra Mason Contractors, which built light industrial facilities and commercial projects,” says Hoesktra. His later years as a contractor were spent in Chicago’s highly competitive residential sector, building condominiums adjacent to the city’s Loop. “It’s tough out there. When you’re not struggling with the weather, you’re fighting serious non-union competition within the residential market,” says Hoesktra.

Although his contracting days are behind him, Hoesktra remains close to his trade, and has volunteered his time and talents on behalf of numerous charitable causes. One such project is the new Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Hudsonville, Michigan. The brick veneer Wall will display plaques honoring the area’s Armed Services personnel. Hoesktra takes special pride in helping to build the Wall – both as a craftsman, and as a WWII veteran.

“I was a member of the 82nd Airborne and my brother was in the 11th,” says Hoesktra. “After visiting the park and learning about the project, I was more than happy to lend a hand.”

If there’s one thing retirement hasn’t quite replaced, it’s the camaraderie of his crew. “I really miss them. We worked very hard, but we also had a lot of fun. But Hoesktra accentuates the positive. “Now I have time to fish and play golf, spend time with the family, and take on charitable projects. One thing I did learn: retirement isn’t cheap. Plan on having a good retirement income. With extra time on your hands, you’ll want to stay active, and that comes at a cost. Thanks to the Union retirement benefits I earned, I can enjoy an active retirement, rather than just sit at home. The Union has done much more for me in terms of benefits, promotion, and representation than any contractor association ever did and continues to provide for me in retirement.”