Deanna Hamelink

A beloved member of her community, Deanna May Hamelink, 56, passed away peacefully Sunday evening at home in Holland, Michigan, surrounded by her family after a 3 ½-year battle with colon cancer. She was born April 4, 1962, in Saginaw, Michigan, to William and Marian Fuller. A 1980 graduate of St. Charles High School, she married her husband of 34 years John Hamelink on Oct. 6, 1984, in Saginaw. John Hamelink emphasized that through all her struggles she exhibited immense strength of character.

“Through this battle that she had she never complained,” he said. “She took it on, she faced the challenges and she didn’t dwell on, ‘Why me?’ To a lot of people that didn’t know her, they didn’t even know she was ill. She just took it head-on and stayed positive.”

“She always said, ‘One day at a time,’” added her daughter Katie Hamelink. “Even when she didn’t feel well.”

In addition to being a loving wife, Deanna was also an attentive mother to her daughters Katie and Morgan Hamelink. Her family said that her greatest joy came from caring for her family. She was well-known for her love of baking and family traditions, as well as nature walks and travel.

Professionally, Deanna held an impressive 39-year career at Meijer as a business analyst and as a leader of projects and people. She had a special knack for mentoring co-workers and helping them achieve their own successes.

“Deanna always had a natural, genuine ability for helping people by sharing her wisdom with everyone she touched. Somehow, she just always knew the right thing to do and say no matter the circumstances,” John Hamelink said. “She was strong, giving and loyal to her family and friends at all times. These attributes came from deep within and defined her being. She loved her family, God, and others above herself at all times.”

In addition to her husband and daughters, she is survived by her father William Fuller; siblings Debbie Kruske (Scott), Don Fuller (Danielle), Dora Waswick; and David Fuller; father-in-law Ronald Hamelink, sister and brother-in-laws; Jane Hamelink and Ron Dlouhy, Carol Hamelink and Jim Christ, Marlene and Wayne Stiles, Susan Hamelink and Barry Springsteen, Ronald Hamelink and Stacey Schiedel; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her daughter Angela May Hamelink; mother Marian Fuller, mother in-law Myra Hamelink, and sister-in-law Mary Hamelink.

“With a heavy heart and tears of joyful sorrow, this week we say goodbye to an amazing woman. We love you, Deanna, and we’ll see you again.” — John, Katie (Peter Cote) and Morgan Hamelink.