Pamela Bawden

Pam Bawden was happiest in the Great Outdoors, under the clear blue sky, out in the woods or the water, with her beloved family by her side. She was a kind, caring and compassionate woman, who always took time to stop and smell the flowers in life. Pam was a loving wife and mother, and a devoted daughter, sister and friend. She was taken too soon, but her life was a gift we will cherish forever.

Pam’s story began on a cool fall day in 1964, as the pumpkins were carved and the costumes readied in the shoreline city of Holland, Michigan. Those were such turbulent times in this country, in the days following JFK’s assassination, during the Cold War and the Space Race, when the Beatles stormed across the music scene. On October 30, 1964, a chilly fall Friday, Larry and Judith (Morris) De Kraker enjoyed an early Halloween treat, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Pamela.

Pam was the third of four children in the family’s northside Holland home, joining her big sisters Deborah and Shellie, and her little brother Brian. Even as a little girl, Pam’s gentle nature was evident, in the way she cared for her little brother, and the way she played with her baby dolls.

Pam also loved all kinds of animals as a little girl, the beginning of her lifelong love for nature, and all God’s creation. She loved to pick flowers in the yard, or the wildflowers in the woods. She loved going to Ottawa Beach with her family, too, playing in the sun, sand and deep blue waves, where she would take a family of her own one day.

Pam and her siblings attended West Ottawa Public Schools, where Pam made many good friends over the years. Eventually she began attending West Ottawa High School, and graduated in 1983.

When Pam was in her late 20s, she experienced one of the proudest moments of her life, when she became a mother with the birth of her beautiful baby girl named Raquel, who filled her with pride and joy.

In the early 1990s, Pam found a good job with a good local company, Haworth, and provided well for her daughter as a single mother. She found much more than a career and a paycheck at Haworth, however.

One day Pam passed by a new Haworth employee named Tim Bawden, who changed both of their lives simply by saying, “Hi.” The two began talking, and Pam and Tim knew immediately they were meant for each other. Both were single parents, each raising a daughter; Pam had 2-year-old Raquel and Tim had 5-year-old Haley.

On December 2, 1995, Tim and Pam were married at her parents’ Holland home, beginning many happy years together, and joining two families into one. The newlyweds were thrilled with their new family, and the girls were so happy to have a sister.

And the new family did much together, too. Pam and Tim and the girls enjoyed trips to Arizona, to the zoo, or many other day trips. Most of all, they loved to go camping and canoeing on the Pere Marquette River, which was always Pam’s favorite and the area she enjoyed so much.

Pam and Tim’s beautiful family became truly complete on February 10, 2000, when they celebrated the birth of their baby girl, Mariah. Now a happy family of five, Pam and Tim and girls enjoyed so many wonderful moments together, from trips to New Mexico and Texas, to simpler times hiking, biking, camping, or just walking on the beach or in the woods.

Pam happily shared her passion for nature with her top priority and passion, her family. She loved sharing the great outdoors with them, even if it was while she was gardening in the yard, pulling the weeds and picking the flowers. She loved to go for bike rides with her family, or to take the girls to Ottawa Beach, just as she did when she was their age.

Pam enjoyed things of her own, especially the wonderful craft projects she made over the years, but her family was always foremost in her life. Pam was a wonderful wife and especially mother, who doted on her daughters, and was very involved with their school, Holland East. And she and Tim enjoyed a marriage more than simply special, too. On February 14, 2006, the happy couple was prepared to celebrate Valentine’s Day together. Instead, it was one of the saddest days of their lives, the day Pam found out that she was ill.

A three year journey for Pam and Tim began, one that would strengthen their love and devotion to God and prayer. On March 19, 2006, Pam, Tim and the girls gave their lives to Christ as a family, and drew upon His strength often over the next two years.

Though she battled her illness bravely, Pam sadly died on Monday, July 21, 2008 in Hospice House of Holland, at the age of 43.

Pam was such a wonderful woman, so kind and compassionate, fun-loving and passionate. She always loved the outdoors, whether it was the woods or the water, the sun or the sand. Yet most of all, Pam was a beloved wife and mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was taken too soon, but her life was a gift to us, a gift we will cherish and remember forever. She will be so greatly missed.

Pam was preceded in death by her sister, Deborah Vander Yacht.

She is survived by her husband of 12 years, Tim Bawden of Holland; her daughters, Raquel and Mariah; her parents, Larry and Judy De Kraker of Holland; her sister, Shellie and Tim Van Malsen of Holland, her brother, Brian and Jayne De Kraker of Hart; and her nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 2:00pm at Beechwood Church, 895 Ottawa Beach Road with Rev. Marv Beukelman and Rev. James Lankheet officiating

Memorial Contributions may be given to Hospice of Holland.

Arrangements by the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Northwood Chapel. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Pam, or to sign the online guestbook.