Sylvia Kuipers

Sylvia Kuipers was a remarkable woman, who lived a long and remarkable life, a life full of faith, friendship and most of all, family. She experienced so many changes in her 105 years, and many challenges, as well, yet also enjoyed so many triumphs, and so many blessings. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother and friend, and truly a blessing to all who knew her. Sylvia's story began on a cool spring day in 1902, in the little farming community of Hesperia, Michigan, on the banks of the White River. Those were such exciting times in this country, the dawn of a new century, a century which saw so much innovation, and so many struggles. On March 28, 1902, Fred and Florence (Keech) Royle celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Sylvia LaVerne. Sylvia was one of six children on the family's farm, joining sisters Erma, Eliza and Jennie, and brothers Arthur and William. Her father was a hardworking farmer and lumberjack, and worked at the crating mill for 25 cents per day, in addition to serving as treasurer of Otto Township and Cartwright Township. He wasn't legally supposed to serve both posts, but nobody else wanted the jobs! Sylvia's mother was equally hardworking, and in addition to raising the kids, she also picked cherries to supplement their income. Those were hard times, and it was a hard life on the farm, but her upbringing made Sylvia ever grateful for what she had, and she never wanted for much. Everyone had to do their fair share around the farm, and Sylvia got up early in the morning to milk the cows. Her brother William was left mentally impaired after a terrible accident, when a horse kicked him in the head, and her sister Erma nearly died after an ice-skating accident on the White River. And Sylvia survived a terrible bout of Scarlet Fever when she was a young girl, as well. She attended a little one-room schoolhouse in Otto Township, and made the half-mile trek literally over the river and through the woods each day. She attended school through the eighth grade, which was so common in those days. After she left school, she worked for a short time at Muskegon Piston Ring, and also for a year as a nanny in the big city of Chicago. Eventually she returned to Otto Township, ready to begin her own life and family. Sylvia had noticed a tall, handsome young man named Henry Kuipers, who often drove his horse and wagon past her family's farm. Her father didn't approve of Henry, and made Sylvia stay in the house whenever he passed by! True love is a hard thing to deny, however, and eventually, Sylvia and Henry were married, on June 26, 1925. The newlyweds moved to Muskegon, where Henry and his brother John built a lovely home at 1060 Emerson Avenue. Sylvia was so proud of that home, and it still stands there today. Henry worked as a machinist at Sealed Power to provide for his new bride, while Sylvia took care of the home, and soon enough, the family, too. The couple was blessed with three wonderful children, Fred in March of 1926, Shirley in August of 1928, and Henry in May of 1941. Sylvia was thrilled to become a mother, and devoted all her energy into provided a loving home for them. She was always there whenever they needed her, just as she was for all her family. Her son Henry remembers her taking him perch fishing at the Muskegon Channel - and it was an event. The trip involved packing a lunch, putting long cane poles on the side of the Catherine Street bus and riding to the bait shop on Lakeshore Dr., then buying bait, switching to a bus that took them to the channel, then fishing all day, and making the return bus trips home! Sylvia always put her family first, and instilled that in her children, as well. On many occasions, they piled in the car and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Royle's for dinner. After her mother died, Sylvia's father came to live with them, and she lovingly cared for him. He died in July 1963, at the age of 103. Sylvia's beloved Henry retired in 1961, after 35 years there, and the couple moved to their retirement home in Fremont in June of 1963. They settled in nicely, and became members of the First Reformed Church in Fremont where Henry accepted Jesus Christ. Sadly, Henry died in October of 1963, which was such a difficult transition for Sylvia. Sylvia had never learned to drive a car, but without her beloved husband, she had to learn, at the age of 61. She insisted on learning to drive Henry's car, a Rambler stick shift, which wasn't easy to learn on, as she kept sputtering and stalling the car. She also failed her first driver's test, as she ran a stop sign, with the policeman sitting next to her giving her the test! She eventually got her license - and a Rambler with an automatic transmission - and drove until she was 92, and totaled the car in an accident during a rainstorm. Sylvia lived in Fremont for 36 years, from 1963 to 1999, and lived a very simple life. She subsisted on very little, Social Security benefits, a $19 monthly veteran's pension and money she made from babysitting, but she never wanted for anything. Sylvia was a woman always at peace with her place in the world, always joyful, full of love and especially faith. She was a Christian woman in the truest sense of the word, and lived her life by the Golden Rule. She taught her children life's most important lessons, to tell the truth, be nice to everyone, and love everyone - just as she did. In 1999, she went to live in Christian Care in Muskegon, where she spent the past nine years, and was a very active resident. She enjoyed the activities there, from bingo to bowling and birthday parties, and appreciated the loving help and care she received. In late May of 2007, she was moved to Oceana Medical Care Center in Hart, but ever full of faith, she sang her favorite hymn the whole way there, "Nearer My God To Thee." Sylvia went to be with her Lord on Monday, June 11, 2007, at the age of 105. Sylvia was a remarkable woman, who led a remarkable life, a long and full life, a life so full of faith and family. She saw so many great changes in her lifetime, and was blessed with many things. Today her life, her love, and her blessings live on in the family she loved most of all. She will be greatly missed. Sylvia is survived by her 2 sons, Fred (Betty) Kuipers of Holland, MI, Henry L. (Judy) Kuipers of Hart, MI; daughter, Shirley Vasser of Las Vegas, NV; 7 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry in 1963; her parents; 3 sisters, Erma, Jennie 2 brothers, Arthur & William Royle; great-granddaughter, Ashley Faith Kuipers and son-in-law, George Vasser. Services are scheduled for Thursday, June 14, 2007, 4:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Pastor Vern VanderWerff officiating. Interment at Restlawn Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: First Reformed Church, 348 E. Main St., Fremont, MI, 49412 or Christian Care, 1530 McLaughlin, Muskegon, 49442. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.