Lori Stoike, 38
Lori Marie Stoike, 38, passed away on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
Born on Feb. 8, 1988, in Holland to Eric and Julie Lynema, Lori served her community as a volunteer firefighter for Zeeland Township for almost six years, answering the call with steady dedication and a generous spirit.
In every setting — whether in service to others or in the quiet care of daily life — she was known for offering help with whatever was needed, giving of herself with sincerity and compassion.
Lori attended school for cosmetology and also worked in the medical field, bringing care and attentiveness to the people around her. At home, Lori found joy in gardening and in tending to her house plants. She had an incredible green thumb, nurturing life with patience and pride. She was also a devoted dog mom who dearly loved her two dogs, Nora and Vada.
Lori is survived by her husband of almost 18 years, Ryan Stoike; parents, Eric and Julie Lynema; mother-in-law, Sandy Stoike; sister, Amanda (Rob) Flokstra; nieces and nephews, Autumn, Isaac, and Leah; sister-in-law, Erika (Brian) Brondyk, niece Evelyn and sister in-law, Meghann (Russ) Boerigter, and nephew and niece Micah and Bridget; grandparents, Corlyn Oetman, Melvin (Sandy) Lynema, and Trudy Neldon; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and many special friends.
Lori was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Don Oetman and Carson Neldon; sister-in-law, Alysha Stoike; aunt, Sarah Lynema and special friend, Etta Marr.
A memorial gathering for family and friends will take place tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at Overisel Reformed Church. 4706 142nd Ave., Holland.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wings Home Hospice of Allegan and The Harbor Humane Society.
Daniel Hansen, 35
Daniel Lee Hansen, 35, of Grand Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
Dan was born in Zeeland on Oct. 5, 1990 to David and Sandy (Alderink) Hansen. He was a 2009 graduate of Hudsonville High School and attended Davenport University, where he studied information technology and played basketball.
Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wayne (Ruth) Hansen, Bob (Mame) Katsma, and Chuck (Bernice) Langeland; and uncle, Daniel Hansen.
Dan is survived by his wife, Kloe; daughters, Stella and Charlotte; parents, David (Sandy) Hansen; in-laws, Bob (Becky) Katsma; brothers, Cody (Emily) Hansen and Trenton Hansen; sister-in-law, Kara Katsma and her children, Bentley, Luke and Ava; brother-in-law, Kurt Katsma; grandparents, Norman (Maxine) Alderink; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
A private family service will take place, with interment in Georgetown Township Cemetery. Please consider a donation to the Daniel Hansen Memorial Fund for future needs of Kloe and girls.
Celebrate Dan’s life by sharing a favorite memory or photo on his dedicated memory page at heritagelifestory.com.
Nelvia Walters, 86
Nelvia Walters, 86, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.
Nelvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She expressed her love many times by looking for and obtaining the "perfect" gift for each recipient. She worked for many years and retired from Reliable Sports in downtown Holland. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, and jigsaw puzzles.
Nelvia had a deep faith and worshiped at Bethel Christian Reformed Church the majority of her life until its closing. She and Harvey became members of Third Christian Reformed Church in the last year.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Gerald Van Haitsma; stepson, Kevin Walters; sister, Arlene Morren; and brother, Duane Ten Broeke.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Harvey Walters; daughter, Ruth (Mark) Paulsen; son, David (Julie) Van Haitsma; stepdaughter, Barb (David) Scothorn; stepson, Brian (Tammy) Walters; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and extended family.
Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 17 at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St., Zeeland, with Rev. Mark Timmer officiating. Burial took place in Zeeland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Nelvia's honor may be given to Northern Michigan Christian School at nmcs.us or by mail to 128 S. Martin St., McBain, MI 49657.
Gwen Rillema, 62
Gwen Rillema, 62, of Zeeland, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026.
Gwen was a lifelong member of Beaverdam Christian Reformed Church. She graduated from Unity Christian High School. Gwen worked at Walters Gardens for several years and then she worked at Piers Feeds until she retired earlier this year to spend more time with her grandchildren.
Gwen also faithfully worked alongside her husband Larry on the family farm, where she loved her chickens, cats, and horses.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Larry; children and grandchildren, Nick and Anna Rillema (Colton and Chet), Stacy and Jake Vollink (Sage, Jace and Blair), Audrey and Andrew Borgman (Emilia, Madeline and Noah), and Rees Rillema; siblings, Wayne and Cheryl Arens, and Gayle and Keith Rillema; father-in-law, Harley Rillema; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ken and Deb Rillema, Judy and Bob Meekhof, Lee and Lisa Rillema, Ruth and Tim Meekhof and Diane and Ed Dreyer; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services to honor Gwen’s life were held Saturday, Aug. 15 at Beaverdam Christian Reformed Church, 5166 64th Ave., Hudsonville. Interment was in Beaverdam Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Andel Institute.
Leonard Gilmore, 72
Leonard “Len” Lee Gilmore, 72, of Zeeland, passed away on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.
Len was born April 8, 1954, in Muskegon Heights to Ray and Arlene Gilmore. Len graduated from Oakridge High School in 1972.
Following high school, Len began learning his trade as a carpenter. He spent his entire working life in carpentry and worked at Baker Furniture in Holland for most of that time. Around 1995, Len retired from Baker due to health issues — closing a long chapter of steady work marked by skill, reliability, and pride in doing things the right way.
During his time in Muskegon Heights, Len met Barbara Joe. They were married in 1976. Together they served as foster parents for 20 years and ran a daycare for 30 years. In the 1980s, they moved to the Holland area, where they set down permanent roots.
In time, they felt called to adopt and went on to adopt their children, Bill, Jeff and Desiree. Their home became a place defined by love and togetherness, and Len and Barbara found deep joy in caring for their family. In 2006, Barbara passed away, leaving a loss that was felt for a long time to come.
Len’s devotion to family was woven into everyday life. When the children were growing up, they fondly remember camping at Blue Lake, along with many other trips to the beach and campgrounds — simple days that became lasting memories. Len was a Cubs baseball fan, and one of his great joys was seeing them win the World Series.
Len also had a lifelong interest in cars, building model cars with Bill, Jeff, and Desiree, and taking satisfaction in fixing up cars as well. Known as the family handyman, Len took great pride in being the one others could count on, and he made a point of passing those skills along — something Connor especially absorbed and remembers warmly.
After retirement, Len enjoyed attending car shows and could often be found doing genealogy for everyone connected to the family. He leaves behind stacks of books and binders filled with carefully gathered information, preserved for future generations. As a grandparent, Len was doting and steadfast — doing whatever he could to show his grandchildren they were supported.
Len was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Joe Gilmore; his father, Ray Gilmore; and his mother, Arlene Gilmore.
He is survived by his children, Bill (Rachael) Gilmore, Jeff Gilmore and Desiree Gilmore; grandchildren, Connor Gilmore, Bill Gilmore Jr., Damon Spelich, and Riley Gilmore; as well as numerous extended family members.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Donald Bruggink, 97
Donald J. Bruggink, 97, died of complications related to severe pneumonia on Monday July 27, 2026 in Athens, Greece.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude Amelia (nee Hyink) and Dirk John Bruggink, son Donald Ian, and brother Dennis (Joan). He is survived by his son, John (Jennifer); granddaughters, Leandra and Althea; brother, Dave; and his long-time travel companion and caregiver, Joanne Bent.
Don was born in Kalamazoo on June 30, 1929. He grew up in Cedar Grove, Wis., before attending Central College in Pella, Iowa where he met his future wife, Erma Van Roekel. After graduating with a B.A. cum laude in 1951, he attended Western Theological Seminary in Holland, where he earned a B.D. in 1954.
Don and Erma married in 1953 and together went to Scotland, where Don earned his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, New College in 1956. Don and Erma were married for 64 years, until her death in 2017.
Don served as pastor of Fordham Manor Reformed Church in the Bronx, N.Y., from 1957 through 1961. In 1962 Don moved his family, which now included two sons, to Holland when he began teaching at Western Theological Seminary (WTS).
Holland was home for the remainder of his life, with the exception of a sabbatical year in 1970-71 when Don and family moved to Rome, Italy and also traveled throughout much of Europe.
Don loved to travel and remained an international traveler right up to his final days. His journeys included annual breaks from Michigan winters in Cancun as well as recreational trips to every continent.
Don was a lover of the fine arts, regularly taking in a ballet or opera when he was in New York for meetings, and consistently supporting the performing arts in the Holland and Grand Rapids area.
Don was the WTS James A. H. Cornell Professor of Historical Theology from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. While on the faculty of WTS, he inaugurated a series of overseas Western Christendom Travel Seminars for WTS students, and 28 groups traveled with him in several countries between 1968 and 1999. After retiring from WTS, Don continued offering educational travel seminars through Overseas Connects at WTS from 1999 until 2015.
Don served as a senior research fellow at the Van Raalte Institute from 2003 until his death. Coffee-time with his colleagues there was a treasured and motivating part of his days.
Don’s major publications were “Christ and Architecture,” 1965 and “When Faith Takes Form,” 1971, both with his architect cousin Carl H. Droppers. These publications resulted in honorary memberships in several architectural and religious design societies and led to Don acting as consultant to 81 building committees.
Don researched and conducted 13 overseas architectural tours on behalf of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA)/American Institute of Architects.
Don received the IFRAA Conover Award in 1984 and was awarded an honorary D.D. from Central College in 2002. Don also was honored with a special tribute in the spring 1999 issue of the Reformed Review, and the festschrift: Tools for Understanding, Essays in Honor of Donald J. Bruggink, James Hart Brumm, ed., in 2008.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Third Reformed Church in Holland.
Please consider donations in Don’s memory to The Third Reformed Church Memorial Fund, Doctors without Borders, The American Indian College Fund, or The Holland Museum.
