Eileen Schrotenboer, 86
Eileen Joyce Schrotenboer, 86, of Hamilton, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, at her home.
Eileen was born in Zeeland on May 4, 1939, to Alex and Lillian Eding. Eileen worked at Rivulet Hurst Restaurant for 14 years and then as the bookkeeper for Schrotenboer Electric. She was a member of Hamilton Reformed Church since 1956.
Eileen was preceded in death by her siblings, Junior Eding, Dorothy Eding and Elwin Eding; and in-laws, Paul Schrotenboer, Dave Schrotenboer, and Eugene Schrotenboer.
Eileen is survived by her husband of 68 years, Jon Schrotenboer; children, Daniel Schrotenboer of Dunningville, Jeffry (Marcy) Schrotenboer of Hamilton, John Jay (Theresa) Schrotenboer of Hamilton and Todd Schrotenboer of Hamilton; 11 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; siblings, Erma Taylor, Larry (Lorraine) Eding and Lester (Faye) Eding; in-laws, Mary Eding, Judy Bosch, Mary (Duane) Timmer, Ellen (Gordon) Bosch and Jane (Wayne) Lampen.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St., Holland, with Rev. Larry LePoire officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in Hamilton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hamilton Reformed Church.
Edward Davis, 83
Edward Davis, 83, of Zeeland, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2025.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Joan Davis; granddaughter, Charlotte Weydert; great-grandson, Desiman Stone Jr.; and brother-in-law, Dave Doezema.
A farmer at heart, Ed spent his professional life as a skilled steel fabricator and machinist. His passion for creating followed him home to his own machine shop, where he spent countless hours crafting special pieces for his family.
Ed will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 47 years, Kathleen Davis; children, Cherie (Tim) Jenson, Christine Fisher, Katherine Davis, Kimberly (John) Rademaker, Lorraine Davis, Anthony (Denise) Ergang, and Tyson (Sarah) Ergang; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings, Phillip (Frances) Davis, Carolynn Doezema, Rich (Barb) Kornoelje, Russ (Chris) Kornoelje and Carole Hockeborne; sisters-in-law, Judith Tatum and Martha (Stephen) Larson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services for Ed will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at Cook Memorial Chapel (East Building) 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville.
In honor of Ed and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation.
Yvonne Higgs, 83
Yvonne Kay Higgs, 83, of Holland, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Yvonne was born Feb. 18, 1942, in Holland, and grew up on the family farm with her siblings. She graduated from Holland High School in 1960 and married the love of her life, Donald Higgs, in 1961. Together, they raised three children.
With a heart for special needs kids, she served as a bus driver for the Ottawa Area Center for nearly two decades. Yvonne was a faithful member of Harlem Reformed Church for all of her 83 years, having been both baptized and married in the church.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Dora Bakker; sisters, Sharon Rigterink and Glad Assink; and brothers, Carl and Melvin Bakker. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Donald Higgs; children, Lonny Higgs, Kimberly Starr and Stacy Higgs; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Keith and Ron Bakker.
Memorial services were held at Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Harlem Reformed Church, 6854 144th Ave., Holland. Burial took place at Restlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Harlem Reformed Church, Hospice of Holland and Ottawa Area Center.
Leona Scholten, 86
Leona Scholten, 86, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Leona was a member of Niekerk Christian Reformed Church. A graduate of Holland Christian High School, she enjoyed studying God’s Word and participated in many studies including Bible Study Fellowship. She was a Calvinette leader, a member of the Ladies Society, and served as the Coffee Break Ministry director at Hamilton Christian Reformed Church for many years.
She is survived by her children, Kris Watjer and Dan and Bonnie Scholten; grandchildren, Stephanie and Mitch Smith, Joshua and Ashley Scholten, Alisha Scholten and Evan Woodke, and Kelsey Scholten; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Mike Becksvoort, Julia Stadt and Marty Zylstra; sister-in-law, Ruth Becksvoort; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Scholten; son, Calvin Scholten; parents, Harry and Gertrude Becksvoort; siblings, Harvey and Barb Becksvoort, Art and Lois Becksvoort, Elaine Becksvoort, Marvin Stadt, Jim Becksvoort, and Jim Zylstra; in-laws, William and Nellie Scholten, Emerson and Marcia Tanis, Harlan and Kay Scholten, and Janette Scholten.
The family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Quincy Place and Emmanuel Hospice for the exceptional love and care given to Leona throughout her dementia journey.
A celebration of life was held Friday, Dec. 26, at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St., Zeeland. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Hamilton.
Memorial contributions may be given to Love Inc. of NW Allegan County or Hungry for Christ.
Kenneth Koetsier, 60
Kenneth Martin Koetsier, 60, of South Olive, passed away Sunday, Dec. 22, 2025, a few days after a tragic car accident.
Ken was born on Nov. 21, 1965, to Ronald and Elinor Koetsier. He married Amy Nienhuis on Nov. 16, 1990, and they had three children, Katlyn, Marissa, and Sam. He worked as an engineer at Donnelly, Micromatic, and then Agritech until 1993, when he and Amy started a green and yellow bean farm.
Ken was a lifelong member of South Olive Christian Reformed Church and passionate supporter of South Olive Christian School, where he served on the school board.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Elinor Koetsier. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Amy; children, Katlyn (Ryan) Geeting, Marissa (Hunter) Lewellyn, and Sam Koetsier (girlfriend Kayla Trahey); grandchild, Grayson Geeting; sister, Cindy (Phil) Visser; mother in-law, Arloa Nienhuis; brothers-in-law, Todd (Dana) Nienhuis, Tim (Michelle) Nienhuis, and Nate (Kelly) Nienhuis; many nieces and nephews; and his dog, Chip.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 29 at South Olive Christian Reformed Church, 6425 120th Ave., Holland. Interment was in Olive Township Cemetery.
Memorial donations in memory of Ken be made to South Olive Christian School.
Pamela Kapenga, 70
Pamela Ann Kapenga (Miller), 70, passed away on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.
Pam grew up in Allegan, the daughter of late H. Jack and the late Phyllis Miller. She married the love of her life, Mark Kapenga on April 3, 1981. Mark and Pam have three grown children (Trisha, Tarah and Trent) that they raised in Holland. Pam was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Holland where she faithfully attended.
Not only did Pam raise three of her own children, she ran an in-home daycare. Throughout her many years of opening up her home she invested in more than 30 children.
After years of daycare, Pam found her “dream job” of working at The Apothecary Gift Shop in downtown Holland.
Pam is proceeded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law, Steven Chambers and Dean Kapenga.
Pam is survived by her husband of 44 years, Mark Kapenga; children, Trisha and Steve Hop, Tarah and Tyler DeLaLuz, and Trent and Misty Kapenga; grandchildren, Zayleigh, Zuree, Zeeken, Zion, Amaya, Gianna, Damian, Raegan, Ava and Sadie; siblings and their
spouses; many nieces and nephews, many cousins and dear friends.
A memorial service was held on Monday, Dec. 29 at Immanuel Church, 325 104th Ave., Holland, with Rev. Alyn Goossen officiating.
Michael DePree, 69
Michael Lee DePree, 69, of Holland, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.
Mike was born in Holland on May 16, 1956, to Ken and Dorothy (Hulst) DePree. He graduated from Holland Christian High School, and later Western Michigan University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering.
Mike married Sandra Klein on Dec. 3, 1976. Mike worked as an engineer doing research and development in office furniture manufacturing with the majority being at Herman Miller.
Mike and Sandy raised their two children in Holland, and they are members of Pillar Church.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David DePree; in-laws, Jerome Klein, Stanley Klein Jr. and Rachel Klein Schrotenboer, Henry Klein, Lavern Van Klompenberg, and many extended family members.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sandy; children, Mitch DePree and Abby DePree; in-laws, Shirley Van Klompenberg, Earl and Margie Klein, Lloyd Schrotenboer, and many extended family members.
A funeral service was held Saturday, Dec. 27, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St., Holland. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery of Hamilton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation.
Jack DeJonge, 80
Jack Owen DeJonge, 80, of Zeeland, passed away on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.
Jack was a graduate of Zeeland High School and worked as a truck driver the majority of his career. He and his wife, Cynthia, lived in Cadillac before returning to the Zeeland area.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia DeJonge; son, Matthew DeJonge; and sister, Vicki DeJonge.
He is survived by his daughters, Kim and Matt Thomas, and Erica Chestnut; his grandchildren; one great-grandson; a sister, Kim and Kurt Smith; and two nephews.
No services were planned. Burial took place in Zeeland Cemetery.
Karen De Jonge, 82
Karen (Nyhof) De Jonge, 82, of Zeeland, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
She is survived by Jerry, her husband of 61 years; children, Lori and Keith Kroll, and Chad and Karen De Jonge; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Tyler and Caitlyn Kroll (Braelynn and Brixton), Morgan Kroll, Erica De Jonge, and Carter De Jonge; siblings, Eldon and Mary Nyhof, and Sally and Ken Kreuze; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Don and Pat Scholten, Junior and Millie De Jonge, Carl and Shirley Van Order, and Dennis and Bonnie Mercer; and several nieces and nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth Scholten; grandson, Zachary Kroll; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 27 at Family Church, Ebenezer Campus, 5166 Ottogan St., Holland.
Memorial contributions may be given to Beautiful Gate Lesotho, Compassionate Heart Ministries, or Corewell Health Hospice.
Phila Essenburg, 84
Phila Essenburg, 84, of Zeeland, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
Phila was born to Harvey and Wilma Knoll on July 19, 1941. Phila lost her husband Glenn, the love of her life, to a car accident on March 30, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Wilma Knoll; in-laws, Gerrit and Bertha Essenburg; son, Curtis Essenburg; and grandson, Matthew Essenburg.
Phila is survived by her children, Karen and Doug Boals, Steve Essenburg, and Scott and Joy Essenburg; grandchildren, Valerie and Dan Nyhoff, Josh and Tracy Essenburg, Jason and Kristie Prins, Cara and Mark Howard, and Aaron and Hanna Boals; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Vanden Bosch, Beth Day, Jean Peugh, and Gretchen Potts; and sisters-in-law, Floreen Horstmanshof and Ruth Essenburg.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 27, at North Holland Reformed Church, 12050 New Holland St., Holland. Interment was in Borculo Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Kids Hope USA or North Holland Reformed Church.
