Full obituary is pending. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11am on April 28th at St. Stephen Catholic Church 18858 Huron River Dr, New Boston, MI 48164.

George F. Vande Woude Jr. was born on December 25, 1935 to Alice Leudesdorff VandeWoude and George F. Vande Woude Sr. in Brooklyn, NY.  He spent his childhood in Queens Village, NY, just a few blocks from Dorothy “Dot” Stapel, who became his wife in 1959.  By all accounts George was a mischievous and inquisitive child; for example, once he surprised his family by putting limburger cheese in his mom’s banana cream pie.  George’s interest in science was...

Kathy Roe age 68, of Caledonia, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 11, 2021.  She was preceded in death by her first husband Douglas Sparks and her parents Garret and Frances Wilterdink.  Kathy is survived by her husband Robert Roe, her children, Bradley (Tiffany) Sparks, Jason Sparks and Kylee (Michael) Muller, granddaughters, Kortney Muller, Molly Muller, Natalie Sparks, Mackena, Kelsy & Maegan Muller and stepdaughter Kristina (Sam Clark) Roe.  She is also survived...

Karen E. Kooistra (Roepcke)  age 70 of Grand Rapids, died peacefully at home on April 1, 2021 after a long illness. She is now in the presence of God and rejoined with her beloved father and mother Rev. Barney D and Lois Roepcke. Karen graduated from Alma College (Fine Arts) and began her career as a display artist for Steketee’s, Gantos and Jacobson’s in Grand Rapids, MI before moving to Buffalo, NY. She completed her Master’s in Education at SUNY, Buffalo and taught...

Gloria Alten (Demmon) Gregory, LMSW, aged 95, of Grand Rapids, Michigan died from complications of a bowel obstruction on  March 28, 2021 . Gloria was the daughter of Ralph W Demmon, local architect and Camellia Alten Demmon, middle daughter of prominent Michigan artist, Matthias J Alten. She graduated from Central High School in the class of ’43. Gloria earned a BA from the University of Colorado and a MA at U of M and her school social work accreditation from Michigan State. Her...

Paul Staeven passed away on Wednesday March 24, 2021 at the age of 70.  He was born in Grand Rapids on March 30, 1950 to the late Myron and Martha Staeven.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of almost 50 years Rosa Staeven, daughters Tresa (Carl) Corbeil, Jennifer (Rich) Langridge, son Robert (Nicole) Staeven, grandchildren Alexander and Hunter Langridge, Pierce, Harper and McKenzie Staeven, sisters Mary Willcome, Carol (Steve) May, brothers Michael (Cathy) Staeven, George...

Ghebrelul Tewelde Ghebre departed peacefully from this life on March 24, 2021 at the age of 78. He will be remembered by his family, friends and community for his unconditional love, dedication to his family, his joyful presence, his courage and steadfast spirituality. He was born to Etmet Solomon and Tewelde Ghebre in 1942 in Adi Sogdo, Eritrea. In 1958, he embraced the Bahá’í Faith, recognizing Bahá’u’lláh as God’s most recent...

Dr. Richard Ilka passed away on March 23, 2021 at the age of 78.  Richard was born on July 21, 1942, in New York City to the late Arvo and Hilkka Ilka.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 34 years, Susan Ilka.   His adult family consists of daughter Lisa Abrams and sons Ben and Nick of Tucson, Arizona and sister Elizabeth Ilka of Victoria, B.C., Canada.  His immediate family in loving remembrance consists of step daughter, Rachel, and Don Veldink...

The Grand Rapids community lost one of its most stalwart and loved members Sunday, appropriately the first full day of spring.  Phil Goodspeed lived 93 years, facing all kinds of physical adversity (missing hip, failed kidneys, etc.), but never complained and always greeted friends and family with a smile and kind words. Even in his worst times, Dad focused conversations on others---their jobs, businesses, golf game, fishing luck and love life. He never sought attention, though it came...

Mary Susan “Sue” (nee Eason) Ogland, 86, died peacefully on March 16, 2021, surrounded by family. She was born in LuVerne, IA, to A. J. “Doc” Eason, DDS, and Frances Antonia (nee Slikkerveer) Eason. Sue and her older sister Marjorie were raised in Algona, IA.  She enjoyed many life experiences with her childhood friends and in their adulthood, they referred to themselves as “The Algona Girls.” She met her husband, Ervin Norris Ogland from Eagle...