This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: VANGIESSEN, SCHOLTEN, DEVRIES, VROEGINDEWEY, SLUYS, VANDYKEN, VANBECK, SIKKEMA, WESTRA, HUTTINGA, BROEKEMA Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/22861/mb.ashx Message Board Post: VAN GIESSEN, Esther Of Grand Rapids Formerly of Kalamazoo Passed away Friday, May 30, 2008 in Grand Rapids after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born March 3, 1935 in Kalamazoo, where she lived for 70 years before moving to Grand Rapids to be near her children and grandchildren. Esther graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1952 and was a longtime former member of Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Kalamazoo and a current member of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. Esther enjoyed volunteering at nursing homes and most of all spending time with her grandchildren. Her testimony and life showed her fervent hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and her desire to be with Him. Surviving Esther is her husband of 52 years of marriage, Jacob; three daughters, Kathy (Mark) Scholten of Akron, OH, Elizabeth (Kevin) DeVries of Allendale, MI, and Joan (Roger) Vroegindewey of Ada, MI; 15 grandchildren, Sarah, Rachel, Jason, Bethany, and Mathew Scholten, Nathan, Abigail, Jonathan, Caleb, and Maria DeVries, ! and Luke, Isaac, Jeremiah, Noah, Grace, and Phillip Vroegindewey; three brothers, Barney and Peter Sluys both of Kalamazoo, and John Sluys of Phoenix, AZ; one sister, Alice VanDyken of Manhattan, MT; two brothers-in-law, Garrett (Helen) VanGiessen, Bart (Anne) VanGiessen, and one sister-in-law, Mary (Robert) VanBeck; two step-brothers-in-law, Albert and James Sikkema; and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was their only son, James Allen VanGiessen; two grandchildren, Amanda and Lauren Vroegindewey; her parents, John and Irene (Westra) Sluys; and two sisters, Martha Huttinga and Winifred Broekema. Funeral services for Esther will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street, with Rev. Dr. Joel Beeke officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park with Rev. Mark Scholten officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Monday and from 1-2 PM on Tuesday at the funeral ! home. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be dire cted to Providence Christian School of Kalamazoo or Plymouth Christian School of Grand Rapids. www.langelands.com Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 6/1/2008. (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.