Laura Angel

Laura Angel was a woman who lived up to her name, every day of her life. She was such a wonderful woman, kind and caring, dedicated and devoted to the people around her. There were always people around her, though, drawn to her warm personality and gracious, generous heart. Laura was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, but more than anything, she was a gift and an angel to all who knew her. Lauras story began on a hot summer day in 1917, in the beautiful beachfront town of Grand Haven, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, as the terrible battles of World War I raged overseas. Yet on August 13, 1917, Jacob and Kate (Pippel) DeHeer found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Laura. Laura joined her older siblings Josie, Howard and Louise, and little sister Bertha on the familys farm in Robinson Township, just outside the city limits. The family were faithful members of the First Christian Reformed Church in Grand Haven, where Lauras faith in the Lord was formed. Laura learned her tireless work ethic from toiling on the family farm as a girl, where there was no shortage of chores to attend to. Going to school each day was a bit of a chore for her, as well, as she walked the mile-and-a-half each way to attend the Peach Plains Elementary School in Grand Haven. Remarkably, Laura never missed a single day of school! Laura attended school through the eighth grade, when she left to go to work full-time instead, like so many in her generation. She first found work at the tannery in Grand Haven, where she made friends and played basketball on her lunch breaks with her coworkers. She then began work as a waitress at Charlies Lunch Room. Charlies was located across the street from Oldbergs, where a young man named Austin Angel worked. He often came in for lunch, and was smitten with the pretty young waitress who worked there. One day Austin summoned the courage to ask her for a date, and she of course said yes. Thus began a beautiful, lifelong romance between the two. Austin proposed to Laura with a ring, while they were sitting atop Five Mile Hill in Grand Haven, overlooking the city below. She, of course, said yes. The couple was engaged for a year, before getting married on May 4, 1940, in Grand Haven. It wasnt long before the newlyweds became parents, too. The couple soon had two fine sons, James and Jay, who made their parents very proud. Their father soon needed to help out Uncle Sam, however. Austin entered the service, and was sent overseas during World War II, leaving Laura and her two small kids to keep the home fires burning. When the war ended and Austin returned home, the family grew once again, with the birth of their daughter, Mary. Laura was an incredible wife and mother, so supportive, loving, and nurturing. The family did plenty of things together over the years, especially camping up north at Big Star Lake, where they formed so many wonderful memories. They were also faithful members of the Hope Reformed Church, where Laura was very active over the years. She was a longtime member of the Ladies Aid Society, and led prayer group meetings in homes, and also delivered food items to the sick or shut-ins over the years. When her children had grown and began starting families of their own, Laura welcomed their spouses to her family with open arms. She also was so thrilled to become a grandma, and doted on her grandkids every chance she had. Ever the hard-working woman she was, Laura went back to work in 1970, taking a job as a press operator at Ermanco in Grand Haven. She worked there for nearly a decade, before she and Austin retired in 1980. Laura found plenty of things to keep her busy in retirement, of course. She bowled in the same ladies league for 50 years, on a team sponsored by Wessells Automotive, a team as close to family as friends can be. She also crocheted everything in sight, from wedding items, to birthday gifts, baby gifts and a seemingly limitless number of Afghans and doilies for her family and friends. After they retired, the couple enjoyed spending time together, whether it was playing cards, golf, or going square dancing. They also enjoyed picking up some Cobbs Chicken and heading down to the beach, to watch the sunset, the swimmers and boats pass by. They also wintered in Arizona for six years, including four winters they spent working at a ranch. Laura did the cooking, washing and cleaning of the rental cabins, and it was a fun experience for both of them. Eventually, as the years progressed, the couple lived in Grand Haven year-round, to be close to their children and grandchildren. Laura remained active very late in life, and even continued bowling until the mid-2000s, but eventually her health began to slowly decline. Austin lovingly cared for her as long as he could, until she needed hospice care. Sadly, Laura died at the Poppen Hospice House on Sunday, January 6, 2008, at the age of 90. -Laura was such a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of family, faith and fond memories. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and a woman who truly lived up to her name. Most of all, Laura was a gift to us, and an angel to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Laura is survived by her husband, Austin F.; 2 sons, James L. (Sharon) Angel of Grand Haven & Jay A. (Garnet) Angel of Grandville; 1 daughter, Mary L. (Roger) Boes of Muskegon; 2 grandchildren, Kimberly (Kim Wood) Angelwood of Grand Rapids & John Angel of Grand Haven; 1 great grandson, Enzo Angelwood of Grand Rapids. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, Louise DeHeer, Bertha Miller, Josie More and a brother, Howard DeHeer. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 11:00 AM at Hope Reformed Church in Grand Haven with Pastor Tim N. Taylor & Pastor Arnold Vanbeek officiating. Interment at Lakeshore Cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday, 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home, Grand Haven. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Hospice Poppin House. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.