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June Bolthouse

July 10, 1932 - November 27, 2020
Marne, MI

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Graveside Service

Saturday, December 5, 2020
11:00 AM EST
Live Stream
Rosedale Memorial Park

Life Story / Obituary


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June Bolthouse lived her life as a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She modeled a love of all people. Her warm smile, selfless heart, and her natural way of showing compassion for others were her greatest gifts. Deeply loved, she will be dearly missed by her many special friends and loved ones.

The year 1932 held many special marks in history. It was the year of the tragic kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son, a winter so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid, and the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Chester and Ruth (Westley) Esther, were eager to welcome into their hearts and home on Osborne Street their first born baby girl, June, on July 10, 1932 in Allendale, Michigan. A kind neighbor, Mrs. Scharphorn assisted in her birth bringing much joy in an era of hard times.

Born to a set of hardworking parents, June learned the value of a hard day’s work at an early age. Her father was a garage mechanic who eventually moved his young family into a small two bedroom gas-station house near Coopersville on Hwy U.S. 16. June and her two sisters attended the White one-room schoolhouse in Allendale. They walked the two and a half miles each way. From there, they attended the local Marshall one-room schoolhouse in nearby Coopersville. June was called to serve others at a young age. At the tender age of ten years old, she accepted Christ as her personal savior. As a result, her teen years were filled with active membership at the local Coopersville Reformed Church.

Studious and ambitious, June graduated with the Class of 1950 with high honors from Coopersville High School. Even while in school, June helped care for her Grandpa Esther, cleaned house for Mr. Taylor two evenings a week, and was a clerk in Lillie's Department Store in Coopersville working mostly on Friday evenings and twelve hours on Saturday. Her strong work ethic paid off over the years as she was always successful in anything she set out to accomplish in life.

After graduation, June enrolled in the Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She balanced a full day of classes at the Grand Rapids Junior College, commuting with a classmate from Grandville where she lived with her aunt Kathryn. After completing the required courses, June was excited to move into the nurse's residence at Blodgett. Part of her training in neurology and psychiatry involved living in the windy city of Chicago for the summer of 1952 while attending the Cook County Hospital School of Nursing. June was active in the medical program of the Pacific Garden Mission and attended Moody Memorial Church. During the winter of 1952, she affiliated at Children's Hospital in Detroit where she received her pediatric experience. Always committed to her faith, during her time in the Motor City, she was lucky to catch Sunday rides to the Highland Park Christian Reformed Church.

Not to be forgotten was the meeting of the man who would steal her heart forever, Roy Bolthouse. Smitten from the very start, Roy and June were married at Coopersville Reformed Church on March 13, 1953. At the time, Roy was serving in the United States Army and was stationed at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. June lived in the nurse's residence where she completed her training and graduated in September. Upon his discharge from the Army, the couple moved to a farmhouse at 0-435 Lincoln Rd. Grand Rapids. A year later, Roy built their first home at 1260 Lincoln Street in Marne. Together they raised three wonderful children. They instilled in their children a strong faith life and attended Calvary Undenominational Church.

By 1958, the family bought a 130-acre farm at 0-10937 Linden Drive in Grand Rapids. Roy put his handiwork to good use by remodeling the farmhouse in 1961. June worked on the farm during the day and evenings at Blodgett as well as attended night classes in Child Evangelism at the Grand Rapids School of Bible & Music. They were later invited to help with music and youth at a new church, Ottawa Center Chapel near Coopersville and June was delighted to be involved with the children and enjoyed playing the piano. Years later, the family moved to Hastings where they remodeled their new home and later built a house next door. During these years, June worked evenings at Pennock Hospital and they were active members of the Quimby Methodist Church. Many happy years were spent here before moving back to the Grand Rapids area by 1973. Roy worked for his three brothers while June worked as a head nurse in Med-Surg at St. Mary's Hospital. They found their church home at the Grand Valley Baptist Church. Five years later, in 1978, they built a home on the main farm 1645 Lincoln. They sold their house on Linden Drive to their daughter, Pat. Wanting more time with her growing family, June resigned her head nurse position in 1982. She then worked as a staff nurse in Oncology. A proud moment was when she helped develop the Pre-Admission Testing Program at St. Mary's in 1987. By 1991, they joined the Tallmadge Community Church just one mile from their home. Always on the go, Roy and June also moved into a new home next door to their previous one, which they sold to their son, Barry.

After a remarkable career in nursing, June retired in 1996. This afforded she and Roy time to travel and spend time with their family. They had a fifth wheel for a number of years and also enjoyed traveling globally. By 2003, their son Chuck moved into their house and they were content to make their first floor an apartment for themselves. For a short time they owned a home in Brooksville, Florida where they would travel and spend the month of January. They later bought a home in the Arcadia area where they enjoyed wintering for many years. June was a warm and generous person. May her loved ones and special friends always cherish the rich collection of memories she leaves behind.

On November 27, 2020, June B. Bolthouse, of Marne, MI fell asleep until the resurrection when she will awake and ever be with the Lord Jesus. “Comfort one another with these words.” I Thes. 4:13-18 Preceding her in death was her daughter, Patricia Rider; sister, Alice Esther; in-laws, Marie Bolthouse, Walter and Roberta Bolthouse, Jay Bolthouse, Ruth and Lyle Hoffer, Esther and Ralph Esther. June is survived by her husband of 67 years, Roy Bolthouse; sons, Barry (Julie) Bolthouse of Marne, Charles Bolthouse of Marne; grandchildren, Shannon, Kelly, Jack, Randal, Christopher, Cameron, Caleb, Connor, Elise, Kaya; and several great grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister, Norma (Hugo) Zorrilla of Ephrata, PA; brother-in-law, Bernie (Sue) Bolthouse of Marne; sister-in-law, Joyce Bolthouse; and many nieces and nephews. June was a member of Living Waters Community Church of Tallmadge. She retired in 1996 after forty-six years of continuous nursing and was a life member of the Red Cross. June's family thanks Faith Hospice staff for the loving care provided during her last days. Because of Covid restrictions, a memorial service will be held in the spring. Entombment is in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Pine Ridge Bible Camp or Faith Hospice.

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