By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Former Zeeland City Clerk Karen Jipping recalls the dedication Pam Holmes showed to Zeelanders during her 16 years of service to the city.
Jipping hired Holmes to work in the clerk’s office in 2009 and promoted her to deputy clerk in 2011.
“Pam loved the city from day one and as clerk she enjoyed assisting council in various parades and events such as the annual Christmas Parade, Pumpkinfest Parade and the annual Mayor’s Christmas Coffee,” Jipping wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record.
Holmes, who replaced Jipping as city clerk in 2018 and had held the position ever since, died last Friday, Oct. 3, after a battle with cancer. She was 60.
“Pam was a wonderful example of Zeeland's motto ‘Feel the Zeel’ and will be missed,” Jipping wrote.
News of Holmes’ death was announced during Mayor Kevin Klynstra’s retirement celebration later that afternoon.
“We’re gonna miss her. She helped me an awful lot. She always arranged the mayor’s coffee. She was a big help all the way around. It’s a big loss for me,” Klynstra said Friday afternoon after the ceremony.
Holmes went on medical leave June 25 because of her cancer treatment. At the time, City Manager Tim Klunder said that she would be away from her position for an undetermined period of time.
“Pam loved being the Zeeland city clerk,” Klunder said in a prepared statement. “She was extremely dedicated to the position and to the city of Zeeland. Pam worked tirelessly to ensure election integrity and accuracy. Beyond elections, Pam worked closely with Mayor Klynstra and City Council to meet their needs, was always willing to lend a hand with special city event registrations, and consistently took care of the needs of team members in the city. Pam was a friend to many in the city and she will be missed dearly.”
Pamela Dawn Holmes was born March 7, 1965, and lived in Holland. Before joining the city in July 2009, she worked 26 years in human resources at BBi Enterprises, a former auto parts manufacturer in Olive Township, according to her LinkedIn page.
Holmes was promoted to deputy city clerk on July 1, 2011. Then at a City Council meeting on May 7, 2018, she was appointed to replace Jipping, who was retiring as clerk, effective June 16 of that year.
According to a memo from KIunder to the council, Holmes was unanimously recommended for the job by a search committee that included Klynstra, Jipping and Mayor Pro-Tem Sally Gruppen.
“(The committee’s) recommendation of Pam is based on her knowledge of the city clerk position and her human resource knowledge, her understanding of the city of Zeeland. She has demonstrated a strong ability to work with the rest of the city team, and her interaction with the public for the past nine years has been extremely positive,” Klunder wrote in the memo.
Since Holmes went on medical leave, the clerk’s office has been staffed by several interim deputy clerks, including Jipping, who returned briefly to work in the office earlier this summer. Currently, Kristi DeVerney is serving as chief interim deputy clerk for the city. The city is expected to begin searching for a permanent city clerk after the elections.
Holmes is survived by her husband, Jerry, as well as many family and friends, Klunder said.
Funeral services for Holmes were held Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Niekerk Christian Reformed Church, 545 Country Club Rd., Holland. City Hall closed from noon to 3 p.m.
Zeeland Record
Former Zeeland City Clerk Karen Jipping recalls the dedication Pam Holmes showed to Zeelanders during her 16 years of service to the city.
Jipping hired Holmes to work in the clerk’s office in 2009 and promoted her to deputy clerk in 2011.
“Pam loved the city from day one and as clerk she enjoyed assisting council in various parades and events such as the annual Christmas Parade, Pumpkinfest Parade and the annual Mayor’s Christmas Coffee,” Jipping wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record.
Holmes, who replaced Jipping as city clerk in 2018 and had held the position ever since, died last Friday, Oct. 3, after a battle with cancer. She was 60.
“Pam was a wonderful example of Zeeland's motto ‘Feel the Zeel’ and will be missed,” Jipping wrote.
News of Holmes’ death was announced during Mayor Kevin Klynstra’s retirement celebration later that afternoon.
“We’re gonna miss her. She helped me an awful lot. She always arranged the mayor’s coffee. She was a big help all the way around. It’s a big loss for me,” Klynstra said Friday afternoon after the ceremony.
Holmes went on medical leave June 25 because of her cancer treatment. At the time, City Manager Tim Klunder said that she would be away from her position for an undetermined period of time.
“Pam loved being the Zeeland city clerk,” Klunder said in a prepared statement. “She was extremely dedicated to the position and to the city of Zeeland. Pam worked tirelessly to ensure election integrity and accuracy. Beyond elections, Pam worked closely with Mayor Klynstra and City Council to meet their needs, was always willing to lend a hand with special city event registrations, and consistently took care of the needs of team members in the city. Pam was a friend to many in the city and she will be missed dearly.”
Pamela Dawn Holmes was born March 7, 1965, and lived in Holland. Before joining the city in July 2009, she worked 26 years in human resources at BBi Enterprises, a former auto parts manufacturer in Olive Township, according to her LinkedIn page.
Holmes was promoted to deputy city clerk on July 1, 2011. Then at a City Council meeting on May 7, 2018, she was appointed to replace Jipping, who was retiring as clerk, effective June 16 of that year.
According to a memo from KIunder to the council, Holmes was unanimously recommended for the job by a search committee that included Klynstra, Jipping and Mayor Pro-Tem Sally Gruppen.
“(The committee’s) recommendation of Pam is based on her knowledge of the city clerk position and her human resource knowledge, her understanding of the city of Zeeland. She has demonstrated a strong ability to work with the rest of the city team, and her interaction with the public for the past nine years has been extremely positive,” Klunder wrote in the memo.
Since Holmes went on medical leave, the clerk’s office has been staffed by several interim deputy clerks, including Jipping, who returned briefly to work in the office earlier this summer. Currently, Kristi DeVerney is serving as chief interim deputy clerk for the city. The city is expected to begin searching for a permanent city clerk after the elections.
Holmes is survived by her husband, Jerry, as well as many family and friends, Klunder said.
Funeral services for Holmes were held Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Niekerk Christian Reformed Church, 545 Country Club Rd., Holland. City Hall closed from noon to 3 p.m.
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