E. Jean Huizenga Korndorfer

E lizabeth "Jean" (Huizenga) Korndorfer was a strong caring woman who loved her family above all else. Jean was a reservoir of strength; a compassionate lady and a loving caregiver to those who were suffering. Family was always first in her heart; Jean's greatest satisfaction in life was being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a faithful servant of God. The early twentieth century was a time when America had become the most industrialized country in the world. The availability of products, particularly cars, changed the social climate forever. During this exciting time in our nation's history, Nan Wickstrom Bolthouse of Muskegon, Michigan, became the proud mother of Elizabeth Jean on May 5, 1925. The Wickstrom family was very large and included 8 brothers and sisters. Nan and her daughter, Jean, lived with Nan's sister, Ann Wickstrom and their brother, John "Pike" Wickstrom. Many of the Wickstrom family lived in the same neighborhood, so everyone had a hand in raising little Jean. They all attended the Samuel Lutheran Church, which was the Swedish Lutheran Church in the community. Jean would become a lifelong member of this Church. Jean's mother, Nan, had an identical twin sister named Nell. The Wickstrom's were very small in stature, and the sisters were very petite. The sisters lived a long life, well into their 90's. Being a single mom, Nan, worked hard to provide for her daughter. She would walk several miles to work each day; she was the secretary of the export manager at Continental Motors in Muskegon. Jean attended Muskegon Public Schools. She was very social and had a mischievous side to her. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1943 and went to work as a secretary at the Norge plant, where they made refrigerators. In 1944, Jean became the bride of George Kennedy. George was in the Army so the newlyweds relocated to Texas where George was stationed. The marriage was blessed with one child, Christine, born on February 6, 1946. The marriage was short-lived and Jean moved back to Muskegon with her daughter and they lived with her mother. On July 30, 1950, Jean married Carl Huizenga in Hart, Michigan. They were joined in marriage by Reverend Hal Oliver, who happened to be married to Jean's Aunt Nell, her mother's twin sister. Jean and Carl had known each other since they were children. Carl ran a gas station at the corner of Houston and 7th Street, down the block from the Samuel Lutheran Church. They ran the gas station for over 20 years and expanded to another location in Norton Shores. Jean helped Carl with the business, mailing out bills and statements for services rendered. Their union was blessed with three children, Ann (5/8/52), Robert (3/7/55) and Steven (11/29/58). Jean was an active mother. She supported her children's school activities serving on the PTA and as a room mother. She volunteered at Hackley Hospital and Samuel Lutheran Church. Her children were active in the music program at school and she attended all their band and choir concerts. In 1967, Carl suffered a heart attack, causing him to lose his business. Jean went back to Junior College, and obtained a job at the Hackley Union Bank & Trust (now Comerica) as a secretary in the loan department where she worked for 20 years. Carl suffered his final heart attack while deer hunting on November 15, 1978. In 1986, Jean's mother, Nan was living alone. An intruder broke into the house and attacked Nan. Bruised and beaten, she went to live with Jean for the rest of her life. Jean also took care of Carl's father in his final years in the 1960's. She was a loving, compassionate caregiver; putting her needs aside to care for others. Jean retired in 1987 at the age of 62. She loved to travel and took trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, and the Panama Canal. You could often find Jean planning a trip to one of the nearby casinos in Manistee or a longer jaunt to Las Vegas for a little gambling adventure. Jean was a great cook; chicken and biscuits and butterscotch pie were some of her specialities. She never measured anything. She had this "green glass" and would use it to figure how much she needed. It was "a half green glass of this", etc. Her recipes rarely had measurements or portions and you would often find, "just cook it until it looks right". Jean became the grandmother of six wonderful grandchildren; Sarah Neis, Brenda Freed, Wendy Haack, Steve Huizenga, Bill Huizenga and Chris Huizenga. They would always put a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She would often visit the grandchildren who lived out of town and stay with them at their house. She bought all of her grandchildren their first musical instruments and tried to attend as many of their concerts as she could. Jean's heart was full of love for these children and she cared deeply about all of them. Jean's mother died in 1993 at the age of 99 years old. Jean sold the house and bought a condo in Walnut Grove, even though she said she would never live in a condo. At 70 years of age, Jean became the wife of Paul Korndorfer, a recent widower. Jean never intended to marry again, but she and Paul fell in love and were married on September 2, 1995. They were very happy together; they traveled and attended church together. Jean was still active at Samuel Lutheran; as a member of the Church Council and singing in the choir. She was a longtime treasurer of the Lutheran Church Women (LCW). In June 2004, Paul died after suffering for three years with Alzheimers. Once again, Jean was a compassionate soul. One year later, Jean was diagnosed with stage 4, lung cancer. Those we love are never really lost to us. We feel them in so many ways - through the dreams they left behind, in the beauty they added to our days, in the words of wisdom we carry with us, and the memories that will never be gone. Everywhere, their special love lives on. Elizabeth Jean Huizenga Korndorfer, died Sunday, January 29, 2006. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Carl Huizenga in 1978 and her second husband, Paul Korndorfer in 2004. She is survived by her daughters, Christine (Robert) Neis of North Muskegon and Ann Huizenga; her sons; Robert (Lois) Huizenga and Steve (Paula) Huizenga; 6 grandchildren, Sarah Neis of Chicago, Brenda (Jim) Freed of Twin Lake, Wendy (Kyle) Haack of Minnesota; Steve Huizenga of Muskegon, Bill and Chris Huizenga of Zeeland. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2006, 11:00 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Christopher Anderson officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home & Wednesday, 10-11 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran Church prior to the funeral service. Please visit Jean's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guest book or share a special memory. Memorials may be made to Samuel Lutheran Church.