Renee Jean Boersma

Renee Boersma was a remarkable woman, as brilliant as she was beautiful, as caring as she was courageous, a woman who worked hard, played hard, and loved deeply all of her days. She was a successful businesswoman, a devoted wife and loving mother and a faithful friend to many. Her time with us was too brief, yet her life is a legacy that lives on in all who knew her.

Renee’s story began on a cold winter day in 1958, as the calendar turned in the little town of Martin, Michigan. Those were tumultuous times in this country which was battling the Cold War and the Space Race, as well as Civil Rights battles here at home. Yet on January 6, 1958, a cold, cloudy Monday, James and Joyce (Fuss) Lapham found reason to celebrate with the birth of a beautiful baby girl in Allegan, a daughter they named Renee Jean.

Renee was the couple’s first child, and was soon joined by little siblings Ronda and Ryan in the family’s Martin home. The three Lapham kids were very close in age and inseparable growing up. The family had a pool in their backyard, too, which made their house the hotspot for the neighborhood kids on those steamy summer days. When she wasn’t swimming Renee could be found riding around the neighborhood on her prized Stingray bicycle, complete with a banana seat!

Renee was a very active young girl with a zest for learning and trying new things. She had a lifelong love for reading and once read the entire set of Encyclopedia Britannicas and regaled her family with all the fun facts she learned. She also enjoyed learning to play the guitar.

Renee attended Martin Schools where she played softball and was a cheerleader when she was younger. By the time she reached Martin High School Renee had grown into an intelligent and pretty young woman, who thought about her future beyond high school. Wanting to pursue a career in cosmetology, she took classes while she was still in high school and after she graduated in 1976 she went to New York to take a cosmetology class.

Soon realizing she wanted a different path she came back to Michigan and lived in Grand Rapids for a short time. In 1980 Renee moved to Big Rapids where she attended Ferris State University to study marketing. Always wanting to be involved wherever she went Renee also joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority where she made many friends. Being a mature young woman she also was the sister who doled out punishment for “infractions” within the sorority!

In the spring of 1981 Renee’s life changed forever when she met a handsome young student named Bob Boersma who was in her Russian History class. They soon began dating and rest was, as they say, their own history.

Renee earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1983 and then went on to earn her Executive Management Certificate from Notre Dame as well. She found a great job in Quality Control at Bohn working in the automotive industry. Among other companies, she worked at Donnelly Corporation in Holland and Grand Haven in quality control and later plant manager. Most recently she worked for Track Corporation as the corporate quality control manager.

Renee and Bob were married on June 14, 1986 at Hope Church in Holland beginning a wonderful marriage full of fun, love and family. The couple bought a beautiful home in 1987 which was close to the Holland State Park where Renee enjoyed walking her beloved dog through the dunes so often over the years.

Renee and Bob became parents in 1991 with the birth of their son Nick that January. Nate rounded out the happy family in January of 1994 keeping with the January birthday tradition in the family of four. As hard as she worked Renee worked even harder at being a wonderful wife and mother. She was very giving, very attentive, and always there for her children when they needed her.

Renee also had a very successful career in the automotive industry and was proud of what she accomplished. She worked very hard and always went the extra mile to get ahead, taking extra courses to help her “climb the corporate ladder.” She eventually became the Quality Control Manager for a large automotive supplier and was proud to be a successful woman in the male-dominated auto industry.

Renee was also a fun loving woman who found great enjoyment in the life she worked so hard for. She found such great enjoyment in her home and in keeping it beautiful with an extensive garden full of hastas, peonies, lilies, and a plethora of annuals. She also loved music especially classic rock like Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones and even Spyro Gyro.

Renee was also a wonderful friend, the kind of person who would drop everything to come to the aid of others, always selflessly and graciously giving of herself.

Sadly, Renee battled health problems in 2007, and died at the home she loved so much on July 5, 2007, at the age of 49.

Renee was a remarkable woman who achieved much success in her lifetime, from her career, her friendships and most of all, from her family. Renee was taken too soon, but her life and her love, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Surviving are her husband of 21 years, Bob, of Holland; Children, Nick and Nate Boersma, at home; Parents, James and Joyce Lapham, of Martin; Parents-in-law, Dr. Vern and Lois Boersma, of Holland; a sister, Ronda and Tim Beeke, of Kalamazoo; a brother, Ryan and Lee Lapham, of Martin; in-laws, Tim Boersma, of Holland, and Mary Pat Boersma, of Berkeley, CA. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a great niece.

Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, 2:30PM at Fellowship Reformed Church with the Rev. Brian Keepers officiating. Burial will follow in Lakewood Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, from 2-5PM, at the Northwood Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 295 Douglas Ave., Holland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the CASA program at Hope College, or to Hospice of Holland.

Please visit her personal Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Renee, or to sign the online guestbook.