Roger Brandsen, 88
Roger Lee Brandsen, 88, of Olive Township, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2025 at home.
Roger was born in Olive Township March 19, 1936 to Harry and Wilma (Hop) Brandsen. He was a lifelong member of South Olive Christian Reformed Church, where he served as an elder, Sunday School teacher and council member.
Roger worked for Chris-Craft Corporation and S2 Yachts/Tiara Yachts, and retired after a lifelong career in the boating industry. He was active in South Olive Christian School, supporting any way he could, along with Crossroads Ministries. In his spare time, Roger could be found singing bass in the Light Bearers Quartet (which he helped found) and tending to his beloved garden.
He was preceded in death by his son, Brian Brandsen.
Roger is survived by his wife of 67 years, Carolyn; children, Laurie Brandsen, Terry (Rhonda) Brandsen, Marlin (Paula) Brandsen, and Lynette (Jeff) Wehrmeyer; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren (and two more on the way); daughter-in-law, Gayle; sisters, Ruth Kooiker and Shirley Barclay; in-laws, Arlene Slagh and Delores Slagh; many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
A service to celebrate Roger’s life was held Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at South Olive CRC, with Pastor Doug Fauble officiating. Burial was in Olive Township Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aric’s Mission or South Olive Christian School.
Joseph Wild, 94
Joseph Wild, 94, of Zeeland, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Joe was born Dec. 14, 1930 in Salford, England. He survived the bombing of Salford in 1940, during World War II. Joe served in the British Army and was proud to share his many memories. He met the love of his life, Olive, at the age of 14, and they married Oct. 6, 1951.
In 1960 Joe and Olive, along with their two daughters, immigrated to the United States, settling in Zeeland. Together, in 1995, they became American citizens, while never forgetting their British heritage.
Joe was a sheet metal worker by trade, retiring from Veneklasen Auto Parts, where he was affectionately known as the radiator man.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Olive Wild (2002); daughters, Rita (1954), Pauline (2023) and Susan (2024); sisters, Ivy and Nora; and brother, Albert.
Joe will be greatly missed by his surviving daughter, Lynn (Dave) Machiele; son-in-law, Timothy Garvelink; grandchildren, Kimberly (Kevin) Van Huizen, LaVonne Burford, Tammy (Brian) Owen, Jennifer Harper, Angela Spencer, Christopher (Sarah) Brummels, Amy (Jeff) March, Kyle (Tomara) Wild, Tara Prins, Ethan Machiele and Noah Machiele; great-grandchildren, Kolten, Kameron, Cayden, Steven, Kenneth, Malorie, Joshua, Justin, Kalib, Moshawn, Alexea, Zaden, Destiny, Mila and Carter; seven great-great-grandchildren; nephews, Eric (Sally) Cammenga, Scott Cammenga, and Raymond (Elaine) Martin, and a multitude of friends around the world.
Visitation will be tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lakeshore Memorial Services, 11939 James St., Holland. A service to celebrate Joe’s life will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 14 at Lakeshore Memorial Services. Burial will be at Zeeland Cemetery on Lincoln Street.
Judith Cook, 80
Judith Anne Cook, 80, of Zeeland, passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Judy was a positive influence on countless students and families over the years. She served as a teacher at numerous schools in the area over her career. She continuously cared for and maintained relationships with former students until this very day.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Cook; brother, Jim Vander Wall; and sister, Sue Berkenpas.
She is survived by her children, Rachel Rice, Mark Cook and Anna Cook; grandchildren, Derek Rice, Jacob Rice, Jasmine Cook, Isaac and Jenna Cook, Alex Smith and Tyler Smith; two great-grandchildren; brother, David and Connie Vander Wall; sister-in-law, Nancy VanderWall; brother-in-law, Jimmy Lee Berkenpas; and her in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Foundation Church, 387 W. Lakewood Dr., Holland, with Pastor David Spoelma officiating. Burial took take place in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given in Judith’s honor to Foundation Church, 387 W. Lakewood Dr. Holland, MI 49424.
Judith Steggerda, 81
Judith Kay Steggerda (VanderPloeg), 81, of Holland, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Judy was born in Holland May 23, 1943 to John and Josephine (Knoll) VanerPloeg and was a lifelong resident of the area. She graduated from Holland Christian High School, and worked for Joel’s Photographic Concepts and Quality Machine & Automation for many years. Judy was a lifetime member of Pillar Church and also attended Central Wesleyan Church.
Judy was preceded in death by her first husband, Steven Steggerda; brothers, Dave VanderPloeg, Earl VanderPloeg and Webb (Joyce) VanderPloeg.
She is survived by her husband, Joel Spykerman; sons, Scott (Julie) Steggerda and Spencer (Wendy) Steggerda; grandchildren, Steven (Kelli) Steggerda, Tyler (Brittany) Steggerda, Rachel (Austin) Headley, Nicole (Chaz) Meyaard, Brittany Lemmen and Zeb (Marisa) Steggerda; seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Sheryl VanderPloeg, Marge VanderPloeg, Paul (Linda) Steggerda and Nick (Kathy) DeVries.
A service to celebrate Judy’s life is being finalized, tentatively being planned for May 3, 2025 at Pillar Church, 57 E. 10th St., Holland.
Margaret Dreyer, 87
Margaret A. Dreyer, 87, of Holland, entered her heavenly home on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Born in Holland, she graduated from Holland Christian High School and was a member of Rose Park Reformed Church. She was a faithful servant who enjoyed singing in the choir, participating in ladies guilds and was a Stephens Minister. She and her husband established Prairie View Farms where they lived their whole life, and later had a partnership with their sons.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Spencer Dreyer; daughters, Julie Dreyer in 1982 and Lisa Dreyer in 1966; son, Brian Dreyer in 2014; son in-law, Gary Israels in 2002; great-grandson, Zachary Israels in 2013; and step-great-grandson, Carter Brink in 2017.
Margaret is survived by her children, Debra (Rick) Prince, Pamela Dreyer and Brent (Amy) Dreyer, all of Holland; grandchildren, Kyle and Holly Israels, Melissa and Jim VanderZwaag, Brandon and Anna Israels, Jon and Leslie Israels, Carson Dreyer and Jay Grothause, Mallory Dreyer, Clara Dreyer and fiancé Ibrahim Imtiaz, Chase and Hannah Dreyer, Brody Dreyer and Tori Dreyer; great-grandchildren, Levi VanderZwaag, Elliot VanderZwaag, Tyler Israels, Caleb Israels, Maelynn Israels, Maddie Israels, Rex Israels, Penelope Israels and Cameron Israels; three step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren; twin sister, Marilyn Maidens of San Diego, Calif.; brothers and sisters in-law, Gary (Sandy) Dreyer of Holland, Leona Wassink of Holland, Ann Basset of Brewster, New York and Joel Glasshower of Zeeland.
A funeral service was held on Monday, March 10 at Rose Park Reformed Church, 14241 Rose Park Dr., Holland, with Rev. Mark Waterstone officiating. Interment was in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holland Christian Schools, Corewell Hospice and the American Stroke Association.
Ann Lawrence, 90
Ann M. Lawrence, 90, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
She was born Ann M. Veldman on Nov. 19, 1934, just outside of Grand Rapids, to John and Annette Veldman. The family moved to Holland when Ann was a young girl. She was a 1952 graduate of Holland High School and spent most of her life in the Holland area.
Ann married George R. Lawrence on Dec. 19, 1952. They were married for 65 years and had four sons. She was a charter member of the Rose Park Reformed Church, serving in the women’s group and singing in the choir.
Ann is predeceased by her husband, George; brothers, Martin and John; and son, Rodney.
She is survived by her sons, Randall (Deborah), Thomas (Vicki) and Timothy (Cindy); daughter-in-law, Ilene; grandchildren, Miranda (Paul), Colin (Ancy), Miriah (Joseph), Heidi (Adam), Joshua (Alicia), Ashley (Bill), Ara (Alex) and Matthew (Mary); great-grandchildren, Henry, Elenor, Coleman, Calan, and Walt.
A funeral service was held Saturday, March 8 at Rose Park Reformed Church, 14241 Rose Park Dr., Holland, with Rev. Mark Waterstone officiating. Burial was in Restlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be given to Border Buddies Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 1254, Elmira, NY 14902, Rose Park Reformed Church, or Faith Hospice.
James Johnson, 71
James (Jim) Johnson, 71, of Zeeland, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Jim was born Sept. 14, 1953, in Allegan to Herbert Sr. and Florence (Briel) Johnson. He attended Holland Public Schools and became a heavy equipment mechanic. The majority of Jim’s work life was repairing heavy equipment at Louis Padnos Iron and Metal Co.
Jim and his wife Michelle are members of Community Reformed Church in Zeeland.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Elizabeth Starrett and Herbert Johnson Jr.; stepson, Sean Nyland; and father-in-law, Earl Nyland.
He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Michelle (Nyland) Johnson; children, Heather Bradford (Dusty), Melissa Johnson and Ryan Johnson (Emilee); grandchildren, Dean Windemuller (Gina), Emily Dornbush, Mallory Dornbush, Sidney Bradford, Althea Johnson and Arlo Johnson; stepdaughter, Skye Nyland; siblings, Jeanett Burchfield, John Johnson, Ruth Cronberg, Viola Garza, Joy Kievit, Mitchell Johnson and Mary Van Kampen; mother-in-law, Dorothy Nyland; brothers-in-law, Steve Nyland and Terry Nyland (Kim); and many extended family members and friends.
A memorial service was held Friday, March 7, 2025, in “The Mosaic” at Community Reformed Church, 10376 Felch St., Zeeland.
Memorial contributions may be made to RHF-Alzheimer’s Research Center, Mail Stop 11202C, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101.
Harold Kuiper, 96
Harold Kuiper, 96, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Quincy Place in Holland.
Harold was a lifelong member of Bethany Christian Reformed Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He attended Holland Christian High School and worked at Baker Furniture for more than 40 years.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Joyce Kuiper; daughter, Wanda Dallas; granddaughter, Melissa; great-grandson, Josiah; brothers, George (Gladys) Kuiper and Kenneth Kuiper; and brother-in-law, Audley (Lillian) Boeve.
He is survived by his children, Yvonne (Randy) Kruithoff, Karen (Mike) Lemmen and Todd (Julie) Kuiper; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother, Ronald (Donna) Kuiper; and sister-in-law, Lillian Kuiper.
A funeral service was held Saturday, March 8 at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S State St., Zeeland, with Pastor Dan Walcott officiating. Burial was in East Holland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holland Christian Schools and Samaritan’s Purse.
Kenneth Bosch, 93
Kenneth M. Bosch, 93, of Zeeland, died Tuesday, March 3, 2025 at his home.
He was preceded in death by his son, David in 1968 and his son-in-law, Allen Menear in 2022.
Ken was a member of Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church and retired from Sligh Furniture following 45 years of employment.
Ken is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lois; children, Cheryl Menear, Janet (Jeffrey) Lambert, Robert (Cindy) Bosch, Michael Bosch; grandchildren, Kenneth Menear, Corey Menear, Kevin (Rachel) Lambert, Brandon Lambert, Jeremy Lambert, Kyle (Kahisha) Bosch, Ryan Bosch, Daniel (Kayla) Bosch, Katie (Daniel) Valero, Alex Lanser, Elizabeth Lanser and Adam Lanser; seven great-grandchildren; in-laws, Marilyn Konyndyk, Jack (Ruth) Dood; and special Tucker nieces and nephew who were like siblings.
Funeral services were Friday, March 7 at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 259 Central Ave., Holland, with Rev. Chad Steenwyk officiating. Burial was in Zeeland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Zeeland Christian Schools.
