Roger Steigenga, 85
Just before sunrise on July 4, 2026, Roger Steigenga of Zeeland, 85, declared his independence from earthly restraints and entered his heavenly Father’s freedom with a fully restored body and mind.
Roger Wayne Steigenga was born at home in Borculo to James and Jeanette Steigenga on Oct. 29, 1940.
As a grade schooler, Roger attended the local District 5 Schoolhouse where his love of learning and adventure were ignited by teacher Mildred Plasman who inspired her students with Friday slide shows of American national parks. Rog entered Holland Christian High School where he met his future wife, Marcia Seinen, when she was seated alphabetically next to him in study hall.
Further developing that love of learning, Roger received his undergraduate degree in elementary education from Calvin College and his master’s degree from Michigan State University. Roger and Marcia were married at Zeeland’s First Christian Reformed Church in August 1962, where they were lifelong active members.
Roger taught for a total of 37 years at Christian schools in Indiana and Michigan as well as the bulk of his career as a sixth-grade teacher for Zeeland Public Schools. Known for his humor and stories, Mr. Steigenga impacted students in memorable ways, including comically ripping off his toupee to illustrate how students made him “pull his hair out” and annually tap dancing on his desk to celebrate the end of the school year.
Although Mr. Steigenga could be hilarious, he was also deeply compassionate. Empathy marked his classroom where all types of learners were enfolded. At the students’ request, he was regularly invited on special education field trips. The echoing influence of Rog’s teaching is carried on through his daughter and grandson, who also became educators.
Outside the classroom, Roger enjoyed many hobbies including traveling and tinkering at his pole barn in Borculo which was built on his parents’ farmland. Roger and Marcia visited all 50 states, including regular summer outings to beloved state parks throughout Michigan, and 12 foreign countries.
Rog was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Jeanette Steigenga; sister, Jane Bickert; sister-in-law, Viv Steigenga; and brother, Ray. He is survived by his “beloved bride” of nearly 64 years, Marcia; children, Matthew (Marybeth) Steigenga and Rachel (Mark) Westra; siblings, Joyce Steigenga, Dave (Rose) Bickert and Norm (Cindy) Steigenga; grandchildren, Andrew, Daniel, and Elisabeth Steigenga, Sam and Eli Westra; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St., Zeeland.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Holland Christian, Hospice of Holland, or South Christian High School.
Jerry Brower, 82
Jerry Lee Brower, 82, of Zeeland, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, July 3, 2026, surrounded by his wife and family.
Jerry graduated from Holland Christian High School. He was a man of faith and attended Niekerk Christian Reformed Church his entire life. He served the church as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and cadet leader. He also served as a Gideon for many years.
Jerry loved building things and worked at Chris-Craft and Slickcraft building boats, and then transitioned to building homes and barns for many years. He loved helping others and really enjoyed his time serving on the Royal Park condo board and helping out fellow condo owners on small projects.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Juliet Brower, and his twin brother, Larry Brower. Also preceding him in death were his in-laws, Martin and Betty Brinks; brother in-law, Lee Karsten; sisters-in-law, Judy Brinks and Marcia Brinks; and nephew, Steve Karsten.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine (Brinks); sons, Curt (Marcy) Brower, Doug (Bonnie) Brower, Brian (Shelly) Brower, and Craig (Dana) Brower; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren with another one on the way.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Niekerk Christian Reformed Church, 545 Country Club Rd., Holland. A private family graveside and burial will be at Holland East Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Gideons or Faith Hospice.
The family wishes to thank Heritage Nursing staff for the wonderful care they extended to Jerry.
Doris Vander Kooi, 98
Doris Vander Kooi, 98, passed away on July 2, 2026.
Born on July 9, 1927, in the Holland area, Doris was the daughter of Nicklaus and Anna Kolean, and she spent most of her life in the area she called home.
After high school, Doris attended nursing school and graduated with her nursing license. She went on to spend much of her nursing career caring for patients as an OBGYN nurse, a role she held with deep commitment and lasting pride.
Doris met her husband, Elias Vander Kooi, through a blind date. They dated for five years before getting engaged, and in 1950 the pair were married. Together they welcomed six children into the world.
After the tragic loss of their daughter, Linda Devore, Doris and Elias took in her children and helped raise them the best they could, offering stability, care, and love when it was needed most. In November 2003, Doris lost her husband of 53 years, a sorrow that lingered and was felt for a long time.
Faith was central to Doris’s life. Those who knew Doris knew that she loved her faith, and she was often found with books all around her — everything from the Bible to her current reading. She was deeply involved in Fellowship Reformed Church as one of the founding members. Doris and her family were the ones that originally picked the name for the church, and her devotion was woven into its earliest days: Doris handmade the first communion cloth used at the church, and Elias made the first pulpit. Her voice also became part of the church’s life, as she loved to sing and was part of the church choir for quite some time.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Elias Vander Kooi; children, Deb Berghorst, Steven Vander Kooi, and Linda Devore; and parents, Nicklaus and Anna Kolean.
Doris is survived by her children, Paul (Lugene) Vander Kooi, Jon (Linda) Vander Kooi, and Joan (Bill) Agre; grandchildren, Chrys (Leon) Hedding, Rebecca Vander Kooi, Tobias Westenbroek, Anna (Fred) Arbogast, Tamara Devore, Osceola Devore, Deanna Vander Kooi, and Daniel Vander Kooi; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Fellowship Reformed Church, 2165 W. Lakewood Blvd., Holland. Interment will take place at Zeeland Cemetery.
Betty Kroeze, 88
Betty Ann Kroeze, 88, of Holland, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Betty was a strong and devoted woman of faith and was a member of Bentheim Reformed Church.
Betty was born on June 17, 1938, to Arthur and Anna Lemmen and was raised in the East Saugatuck area. She retired from Magna/Donnelly in Holland. She loved traveling by road and air. When at home, she enjoyed watching the birds out her window, game shows, and the Tigers on TV.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Gene Lynema and Jasper (Jack) Kroeze Sr.; eight siblings; son, Ron Lynema; and stepson, Curt Kroeze.
Betty is survived by her children, Linda and Jeff DeBoer, Allen and Sharon Lynema, and Todd and Pamela Lynema; daughter-in-law, Terri Lynema; 15 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Arlene Herweyer; brothers-in-law, Richard Kalmbaugh and David Barnett; in-laws, Mary Verburg, Melvin and Sandy Lynema, JoAnn Kiger and Karen Overweg Lynema; stepchildren, Cal and Jill Kroeze, Larry and Jackie Kroeze, Jack Kroeze Jr., Nancy and Phil Dannenberg, Kevin and Debbie Kroeze, Lynda and Mike Drost, Sally and Craig Hoeze, Janet Kroeze and Dan Kroeze.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 7 at Bentheim Reformed Church, 3997 38th St., Hamilton, with Pastor Kris Popovitch officiating. Burial took place in Bentheim Cemetery.
Alvin Masselink, 83
Alvin Wayne Masselink, 83, of Holland, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease
Al was born July 22, 1942 in Blendon Township. Even through his struggles, Al never complained and always put others first, especially his family. He was a man of unwavering faith, gentle and caring, a great listener, and someone who quietly served those around him with love and compassion.
Al is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Masselink; children, Dave and DuAnne Masselink (their children: Samantha, Brett, and Jersey; great-grandchildren: Tia and Jaymison), Dwayne and Deborah Masselink (their children: Austin, Peyton, and Sawyer), Darin and Kellie Masselink, and Denice and Scott Burgess (their children: Alexa, Carson, Davis and Lucy). He is also survived by his siblings, Judy and Gary Boetsma, and Harley and Carol Masselink.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Dorothy Masselink; and his in-laws, Henry and Jennie Fleser.
A memorial service was held on Thursday, July 2 at Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Rd., Holland, with Rev. Bill Boersma officiating. Burial was in Graafschap Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Memorial Church, Faith Hospice Circle of Faith, or Samaritan’s Purse.
Jacquelyn Swanezy, 75
Jacquelyn Rae Stegeman Swanezy, 75, of Holland, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 27, 2026 after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.
Born on March 10, 1951 in Zeeland to Nelson and Florraine Stegeman, Jackie lived a life of devotion to her family and loved ones. She attended Zeeland Public Schools and graduated from Hope College in 1973.
Jackie was a counselor for Camp Geneva and went on to a long and fulfilling career in elementary education with West Ottawa Public Schools for 34 years.
Jackie was a member of Christ Memorial Church for more than 50 years and was actively involved in many missions in life. She enjoyed serving others through places like Love SEWS ministry, and Kenya Hope where she served on the board after her travels to Kenya to dedicate a school in her mother's honor.
Jackie was preceded in death by her sister in-law, Susan Swanezy.
Jackie is survived by her husband of 52 years, James Swanezy; children, Jenna (Drew) Kastran and Jonathan (Ashley) Swanezy; grandchildren, Brooke and Colin Kastran, and Mila and Colby Swanezy; siblings, Steve (Ruth) Stegeman, Marsha (Gregg) Converse,
Marybeth (Greg) Timmer and Rebecca (Rob) Riekse; brother-in-law, Scott (Suze) Swanezy; and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
A celebration of her life was held Wednesday, July 8 at Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Rd., Holland.
The family requests that donations can be made in her honor to Camp Geneva in Holland, or Kenya Hope in Hudsonville.
Ronald Driesenga, 75
Ronald Driesenga, 75, of Holland, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Ron graduated from Zeeland High School and then started driving truck for De Young Industrial Refuse, where he retired in 2017. He loved spending time with his family and friends and enjoyed riding his motorcycles and working on his hotrods.
Ron was preceded in death by his infant son, Jeffrey Driesenga; parents, Harvey and Goldie Driesenga; brother, Steve Driesenga; and brothers-in-law, Dan Gruppen and Wayne Sneller.
He is survived by his son, Scott and Sarah Driesenga; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jessica Driesenga (Emerson), Nicole Irons (Ethan, Gavin and Melanie), and Blake Driesenga; step-grandchildren Haley Clark (Addison) and Elijah Levy; siblings, Marlene Sneller, Linda and Bill Casey, Kathy and Kevin Fugelseth, Bonnie and Terry Gruppen, and Jim and Judie Driesenga; and sister-in-law, Vicki Driesenga.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 6 at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St., Zeeland. Interment was in Restlawn Memorial Gardens.
