Marilyn Van Der Werff

Marilyn Marcella Van Der Werff, age 74, of Holland, MI, went Home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 14, 2012.

Marilyn was born the 2nd of 3 children to Elvin and Dorothy Krumm on December 3, 1937, in Tacoma, WA. Throughout her early childhood, she excelled in school, music (piano and singing), and activities at Temple Baptist Church. Marilyn gave her life to Christ at age 4 and began a life-long adventure of loving and serving her Lord.

After graduating from high school and throughout her early college years, a source of great joy for Marilyn was spending time at Mt. Rainier National Park’s Paradise Inn. In the daytime she worked as a waitress and during the evenings she performed with musical singing groups. In later years, a part of Marilyn’s heart was always reserved for Mt. Rainier. She believed that Mt. Rainier was the only mountain in the world that counted!

Her passion and talent for music further blossomed in the college choir, in various church choirs throughout her life, and in the last ten years in the Chorale at Evergreen Commons. With the chorale she traveled to Europe where they performed in many cathedrals throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Her college years were spent at Whitworth College in Spokane, WA where she met the love of her life, Vernon! They sang together in the college choir where they developed a special affection for one another. After a 2 year engagement they married in Tacoma, WA in 1959. After marrying they moved to Holland, MI where Vern completed seminary and Marilyn began teaching in the Holland Public Schools.

Vern and Marilyn served in various Reformed Churches for 41 years including those in Chicago, IL, Grand Rapids, MI, Santa Ana, CA, Holland and Fremont, MI. Marilyn retired from Holland Public Schools after 25 years of teaching, the last 16 years of which she spent teaching 2nd grade at Washington Elementary School. Marilyn thoroughly enjoyed nurturing and developing these young lives, which always kept her young at heart!

Marilyn was a vibrant, faithful Christian who touched numerous lives through active involvement in a wide variety of local church ministries (i.e. women’s groups, Bible studies, prayer groups, choirs) and Moms In Touch (an international prayer ministry). Marilyn believed deeply in the power of prayer and dedicated much of her life to faithfully interceding for the needs of others. Her compassion, servant heart, and constant selflessness encouraged and continually demonstrated God’s love to countless lives.

Upon retiring, she and Vern continued singing with the chorale and enjoyed traveling to Germany, Italy, Holland, England, Turkey, Greece and particularly Israel.

In later years, Marilyn’s grandchildren brought tremendous joy to her heart! Nonnie, as they called her, formed “Nonnie’s Summer Reading Club”, which challenged them with reading goals and rewarded them with highly anticipated gifts. To this day, Marilyn’s grandchildren all remain strong readers. They filled her days with joy and in her final years of declining health, Marilyn claimed that her grandchildren were her “best medicine”.

We want to thank everyone who has played a part in honoring the memory and life of our beloved mother, grandmother and wife.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Vern Van Der Werff of Holland; her sons and daughters-in-law, Phil and Shelly Van Der Werff of Zeeland, MI, Brian and Melody Van Der Werff of Chicago, IL, Glenn and Holly Van Der Werff of Lake Orion, MI; her grandchildren, Jaden, Luke, Levi, Ellia, and Tate; her sister, Lee Sheldon, her brother, Myron (Lois) Krumm; her sister-in-law, Eleanor (Lamar) Vander Griend, her brother-in-law, Ron (Jan) Van Der Werff; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday January 18, 2012 at Remembrance Church, 4575 Remembrance Rd. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534.

A private interment will take place on Wednesday prior to the memorial service.

Memorial contributions may be given to Remembrance Church Mission Fund: www.remembrancechurch.org

Marilyn’s family invites you to share memories, reflections, and photos in her online guestbook: www.dykstrafuneralhome.com