Marjorie Berrevoets

Marge Berrevoets was born in Grand Rapids on Jan. 16th 1925 and was the 7th of 8 children to her parents Jon and Nellie (Verburg) Bush. She was raised in the family home on the northeast side of Grand Rapids alongside her 6 sisters and 1 brother. The Bush family went to 4th Reformed Church where Marge was baptized and became a lifelong member.

Marge began working at the age of 16 for Hyman Berkowitz and worked for him for 46 years. Starting her career at Plainfield Department Store and she followed Mr. Berkowitz to Rogers Department Store where she worked until she retired in 1987.

She Married Bill on March 7, 1946 at the 4th Reformed Church on Ionia St. just 2 months after he had been discharged from the Army after receiving the Purple Heart for his brave service to his county. They settled into a new home where they started a family with daughter Susan coming along in May 1947 and son Bill Jr. in December 1949. With the help of his father and brothers, Bill built a brand new home in 1955 and Marge and Bill raised their family there making countless wonderful memories.

The family did much together over the years. In 1958 they started spending their summer weekends at Hardy Dam in Newaygo. They first started camping in a tent, moved up to a small trailer (with a hole in the floor) at the park and eventually, bought property and a permanent mobile home which they kept and enjoyed until after Bills death in 2008. Every Friday night they would pile into the car and head to the Dam ready for a weekend of FUN FUN FUN!

Bill and Marge loved to travel with friends and family – taking multiple trips to Hawaii, Acapulco, Spain, Las Vegas and around the United States, even taking an adventurous hot air balloon ride in 1986. From 1985 to 2001 they wintered in beautiful Bradenton, FL spending 6 months of the year there. They bought another mobile home right on the bay of the ocean and during those years they had three homes to take care of and Marge always had something for Bill to work on somewhere. They loved playing shuffle board, riding bikes, playing cards, shell hunting at the ocean and various other activities with all of their friends and family that were in the same park with them.

In 2001 they took another incredible trip to California with their son Bill and his wife Mary. They saw Hollywood, Los Angeles and the San Diego Zoo among other attractions. The following year they all went back out west to see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and spend time in Reno, NV.

Marge loved planning family get togethers and activities with her friends and was lovingly given the nickname “Sarge” because she liked to have things done her way.

Upon losing Bill in 2008, after 62 years of marriage, Marge chose to stay in their longtime home. She lost her beloved son Bill in 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She went to the Salvation Army 3 times a week with her friends to play Bingo and have a nice lunch. They would win tickets that they could turn in for various food or household items. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren always thought it was funny that Grandma Marge had a grocery store in her guest bedroom, but Marge loved that she always had something to send home with anyone who came to visit.

In 2014, after the death of her son-in-law Dave, Marge sold her house and moved in with her daughter, Susan. They lived in Charlotte, MI for about two years and in 2016 Marge and Sue move into a brand new condo in Norton Shores, MI where they have made many new friends and Marge continued playing cards, going out for diners and enjoying time with friends and family.

Marjorie Berrevoets, age 96 of Norton Shores and formerly of Grand Rapids, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 1, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Sr; son, William Jr; son-in-law, David Stanley; parents, John and Nellie Berrevoets (Verburg); great-grandson, Cole Turnquist; six sisters and her brother.

Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Susan Stanley; daughter-in-law Mary Berrevoets; grandchildren Scott & Lisa Stanley, Kurt (Eric Turnquist) Stanley, Heather & Matt Briggs; five great-grandchildren Alec, Paige, Tahya, Avy, Olivia, and many special nieces and nephews.

The service to remember and celebrate Marjorie’s life will be held on Thursday, August 12 at 11:00 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave NE, where friends may meet with her family beginning at 10 AM, and for a time immediately following the service. Contributions to Salvation Army are appreciated as Marjorie has volunteered with the Salvation Army for many years (1215 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids, MI 49503). To read more about Marjorie’s life, to share a memory or photo, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com