Marion Deweerd

Mrs. Marion DeWeerd, age 82, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, and child of God, died Saturday afternoon, July 7, 2007. She was born February 18, 1925, in Muskegon Heights to Henry and Kate (Pettinga) Ruiter. Mrs. DeWeerd was a 1942 graduate of Muskegon Heights High School. After raising her children, she worked many years for the Mona Shores Public School system in food service before retiring. Mrs. DeWeerd was the oldest living baptized member of Covenant Community Church. She was a very active church member and participated in the Women's Bible Study until her death. Mrs. DeWeerd loved to travel and visited all 50 states. She was also active in her family's lives. On November 7, 1946, she married Lester J. DeWeerd at Covenant Reformed Church in Muskegon Heights and he preceded her in death on November 14, 2006. SURVIVORS include 5 sons, Gregory (Judy) DeWeerd, Thomas (Joanne) DeWeerd, and Lawrence (Terri) DeWeerd, all of Muskegon, James (Mary) DeWeerd of Grand Haven, and Richard (Sheryl) DeWeerd of Ludington, and her daughter Kay (Robert) Rhoades of Fruitport; her 17 grandchildren, Lisa DeWeerd, Wendy (Tim) Burchell, Joseph (Paula) Risselade, Melissa (Michael) Puzan, John (fiancee', Kari Tipton) DeWeerd, Jeffrey DeWeerd, Joel DeWeerd, Leslie (Andy Rakestraw) DeWeerd, Adam (Stevennie) DeWeerd, Eric (fiancee', Hayley Hansen) DeWeerd, Sean Smiertka, Jennifer DeWeerd, Nathan (April) DeWeerd, Ryan DeWeerd, Shawn DeWeerd, Keaton Rhoades, McKenna Rhoades; 11 great-grandchildren, Kamryn Burchell, Kyle Burchell, Phoebe Risselade, Peyton Risselade, Sarah Puzan, Becca Puzan, Serenity Smiertka, Aydin DeWeerd, Douglas Johnson, Kayla Johnson, Christopher DeWeerd; sister, Jean Brondyke of Boston, MA; sisters-in-law, Rhea Ruiter of Spring Lake, June Gebben of Holland; brother-in-law, Gerald (Donna) DeWeerd of Holland; many nieces and nephews; and many good friends. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Ernest Ruiter. A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at Covenant Community Church, 134 E. Barney Ave., Muskegon Heights, with Pastors Mark and Miriam Bush officiating. Private burial will take place in Spring Lake Cemetery. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be made to Covenant Community Church. VISITATION with the family will be from 2-4 & 6-8 PM Wednesday at The Walburn Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 1547 W. Sherman Blvd. (231) 759-8565