Nelva Lee Johnson

Nelva Lee Johnson was a woman cut of the warmest, kindest cloth, who always volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She loved to be surrounded by her family and loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life extraordinary joy. Always thinking of others before herself, Nelva was both blessed by and a blessing to those she loved.

1938 saw the nation struggling to climb out of the depths of the Great Depression. Yet, it was also the year the country delighted in the release of the original film version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol while others trembled in fear listening to Orson Welles broadcast his infamous War of the Worlds on the radio. In Jamestown Township, Michigan, Joseph Verburg and his wife, Hattie (Jannerath), had a debut of their own with the birth of their daughter, Nelva Lee, on February 21, 1938. She was the youngest of their six children.

Nelva graduated from Grandville High School in 1956. A few years later, she married her high school sweetheart, LaVerne Johnson, on July 17, 1959, at Hanley Chapel, which was located just south of Grandville. The couple soon settled into their first home together at 86 East 33rd Street in Holland. It was here they welcomed their three wonderful children: Michael born on January 13, 1960, Janice born on September 25, 1961, and Amy born September 12, 1967. Nelva and LaVerne raised their children in the Christian faith and attended Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in Holland. The family later moved to A-4415 47th Street in Overisel, where they attend Overisel Christian Reformed Church and the children all graduated from Hamilton High School.

Time together as a family was always important to Nelva and they took many opportunities to travel when the children were young, particularly to the Upper Peninsula. In 1974, the family of five took an unforgettable trip out west, traversing the county in their Volkswagen Beetle. They visited landmarks like Mount Rushmore while traveling through South Dakota, North Dakota and on into Canada. After LaVerne retired from Parke-Davis, he and Nelva traveled more extensively, taking trips to Nova Scotia, along the east coast and Canada. When they were closer to home, the couple enjoyed going to the beach and watching the beautiful sunsets or watching a storm roll in. Nelva was a big fan of Fricano's Pizza in their area, which they visited often.

Nelva and LaVerne eventually moved to 2375 Eagle Place in Park Township, and became members of Calvary Christian Reformed Church. Heartbreakingly, Nelva lost her beloved LaVerne on May 20, 2005. This was truly a difficult time for her being alone, but she found great comfort in her children and grandchildren, who always brought a smile to her face. Nelva filled her time with baking, which she loved, and it always made the house smell so delicious in addition to warming it up. Nelva never let her children go home empty handed when visiting; she always had extra food for them to take along. Nelva was also a great knitter, and her grandchildren all have nice toasty feet with the new slippers she just recently knitted for each of them. After her husband died, Nelva joined the Fellowship Reformed Church last fall with her daughter Amy and her family.

Nelva had the kindest, most caring heart and she never thought twice about helping someone in need. She was there for anyone at anytime, not because she had to be, but because she wanted to share fully in the lives of the people she loved. She will be deeply missed.

Nelva Lee Johnson, age 67, of Holland, MI, unexpectedly passed away of natural causes on Monday, February 20, 2006, at her home. Her husband, LaVerne, preceded her in death, as well as her brother, Harold Verburg. She is survived by her children: Michael and Marlene Johnson of Zeeland, Janice and Thomas Deters of Holland, and Amy and Randall Rouwhorst of West Olive; nine grandchildren; her sisters: Muriel Norden of Byron Center, Thelma and Herm Herrema of Jenison, Shirley and Peter Cnossen of Grandville, Barbara Verburg of Jenison; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Grada Verburg, Marion Scholten, Julius and Lois Johnson, Arlene Johnson, Jane Johnson; and her several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 24, at 1:30 p.m. at Fellowship Reformed Church, 300 North 168th Avenue, with Rev. James Baar Jr. and Rev. Sara Beaver-Vogel officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 23, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Avenue. Burial will take place at Lakewood Cemetery in Park Township. Please visit Nelva's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to Camp Geneva or Hospice of Holland.