Margaret Timmer

During our lives on this earth, we are not always given the rewards that we will be blessed with in Heaven, and Margaret (Hoolsema) Timmer was aware of this more than most. She experienced many hardships throughout her life, but knowing that God does not give us more than we are able to handle, she sought comfort and strength in her faith and always made the most of what she had. She gave back to the Lord first and, with expert management skills, always found the money to support her family. In life she perfected each of the gifts she was blessed with becoming a talented seamstress, a top-notch baker, and, more than anything, a loving wife and mother to her children.

In April of 1917 millions of Americans were in a state of disbelief, news that America had declared war on Germany, and with that we were entering WWI, had just hit the airwaves. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, John and Lena (Mast) Hoolsema were patiently awaiting the arrival of their very first child, and she would finally come on August 8th. They named their beautiful baby daughter Margaret. This feeling of firsts, however, would not last long, and within the next three years Margaret would have two younger sisters, Heinie and Jean.

When Margaret was three years old she and her family moved to a small town named Rudyard, situated between the Soo Locks and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. There, her family would welcome six more children in the years that followed. Although Margaret's parents would have liked to enroll her in the Christian school, there wasn't any room for her, and so she was left attending Rudyard Public Schools. There she would receive her education through the eighth grade, graduating in 1931.

As a teenager, Margaret experienced one of her most frightening childhood memories, one that would remain with her for the rest of her life. In the early part of the 20th century, many of the back roads were made of clay, and when it rained they became very slippery. While Margaret was traveling by horse across a bridge on her way to deliver cream, the horse began to slip, and nearly fell off of the bridge. It would be the last time she traveled by horse in the rain. From then on, she decided to take work indoors, and began cleaning houses in Sault Ste Marie to make ends meet during the depression and because she had a job she bought Christmas presents for the family. This was the first time they had presents in the family!

In 1938, Americans were just beginning to see that the end of the struggle was in sight, and could breathe a little bit easier knowing that better days lie ahead. Some of the best days were ahead of Margaret that year as well. Ben Timmer, of Ellsworth, was a young man Margaret began dating after they met at a picnic. Being from across the bridge in the Lower Peninsula, Margaret and Ben were forced to carry on their romance across miles, until finally they decided they couldn't be apart any longer. On May 10, 1940, the couple took their vows in a double wedding ceremony performed at Rudyard Christian Reformed Church. Following the wedding, the two newlyweds celebrated their love at Niagara Falls.

When they returned home, it was to Ben's hometown of Ellsworth, at first settling into a rental home where they paid seven dollars a month, before buying a charming home in Skunk's Hollow for $1200. This would be the house where Margaret and Ben would be blessed with their first three children, Hubert in 1941, Kathleen in 1942, and Agnes in 1943. With the three children in tow, Margaret and Ben decided something spacious would be more appropriate, and purchased a 160-acre farm just a few miles south of Ellsworth. Over the next few years, the family would welcome four more children, Stanley in 1945, Richard in 1946, Earle in 1949, and Donald in 1950. At the time, medical science was not what it is today, and doctors did not know nearly as much about pregnancy. Most likely the Rh factor found in Margaret's blood caused Donald to pass away soon after birth and Stanley when he was seven months old. Both experiences tested the family's faith, but their reliance on God during these times brought them strength and comfort in the midst of their pain.

With five children to raise, Margaret stayed at home, while Ben worked at his brother's feed mill. Owning a farm, the family also did some part-time farming, and Margaret, who had so many mouths to feed, spent much of her time canning their harvest in the summer months. Margaret was so proud of her family's accomplishments during these years, Ben could bring home $50 a week from the feed mill, but working together, the family could more than double that by picking enough cherries to fill 100 lugs, a record that will probably stand the test of time. Margaret, who continually worked at supporting her family, was also an amazing seamstress, making many of her own clothes.

In 1959, the family experienced the loss of Ben's brother John, and consequently the loss of Ben's job. Ben tried several jobs, but none were as suited for him as the agriculture industry was. Margaret and Ben's prayers were answered in 1962 when a family member told them of a job opening at Dewitt's Turkey Farm in Holland. At once, Ben left for Holland, leaving Margaret with the children to finish out the school year. The move was hard on Margaret, because leaving Ellsworth meant leaving her best friend, Hattie Hoeksema. Over the next decade the family would move several times for work, before finally settling down for nine years in Cascade.

When Ben finally retired, they moved back to Holland, this time it was Margaret's favorite house they were leaving behind. Moving many times, but never away from Michigan's cold weather, the couple decided to come out of retirement in order to spend several winters in Florida, where they kept house for an elderly couple. With Ben's health failing, however, they decided to simplify their lives, and trade in their home on 32nd Street, for a rental house on 19th Street. The new living arrangement worked out well for Margaret, as it put her close to Evergreen Commons, where she volunteered in food preparation and took advantage of their sewing room. At one time sewing for the family had been a necessity, but now it was one of Margaret's favorite hobbies.

Margaret lost her husband Ben when he passed away in 1987 after a very blessed 47 years together. She remained in the couple's rental home, until moving into Warm Friend Retirement Home in downtown Holland in 1995. She was excited to live downtown, where she could walk around and enjoy city living. She also brought with her all of her worldly possessions and was determined to fit them into her tiny room. Carefully measuring every square inch and masterfully planning the arrangement, until everything she wanted with her had a place in her new room. This left only a small pathway to get around and seating on the bed, but nonetheless, Margaret was proud of her design feat. One year later she had to start anew when the room she really wanted opened up. Quite contented, she remained in room 211 for the rest of her time there.

Above all else, Margaret was a strong Christian and loyal to the Christian Reformed Church, where she attended both services every Sunday. Some of her fondest memories were from her time spent serving the Lord at Park Christian Reformed Church and Prospect Park Christian Reformed Church. She spent many years listening to Reverend Charles Stanley give his weekly sermon on the radio, and, of the five children she raised, all went on to earn degrees from Calvin College, a school with strong Christian values. Although Margaret's family and friends will miss her dearly, they are rejoicing in their faith because they know that she has been called home to be with the Lord.

Margaret Timmer (nee Hoolsema), age 88, of Holland, passed away on Saturday March 11, 2006 at Resthaven Care Center in Holland.

She was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Timmer in 1987 and her two infant sons.

She is survived by her children, Hubert and Tena Timmer of Zeeland, Kathleen Vander Vliet of Jacksonville, FL, Agnes and Al Heersink of Dallas, TX, Rich and Darlene Timmer of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, and Earle and Joan Timmer of Coleman, MI; 14 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; her sisters and brothers, Henrietta(Heinie) Kamper of Grand Rapids, Carl and Betty Botting of Ada, Ellen Heeres of Kalamazoo, Dick Hoolsema of Rudyard, Angie Hoolsema of Grand Rapids, Jerry and Ann Hoolsema of Rudyard; her sister-in-law, Laurel Hoolsema of Rudyard; her special friend, Hattie Hoeksema of Ellsworth; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday at 3:30pm at the Dykstra Lifestory Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel, on 188 West 32nd Street with Dr. Doug Fauble officiating.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 7-9pm and Friday one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Burial will take place in Ellsworth Cemetery.

Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Mulder Chapel.

Please visit Margaret's personal memory page at www.lifestory.net where you may share a memory or, In lieu of flowers, make a memorial contribution to Resthaven Patrons.