Thelma VanDerSchie

With unwavering faith, hope, and love, Thelma VanDerSchie lived a life rich in family and friends. A beloved wife, supportive mother, caring daughter and sister, cherished grandmother, blessed great-grandmother, treasured friend, and steadfast prayer warrior for all, Thelma began each morning with a time of devotion and prayer for each of her family members and friends. Her abiding faith in knowing she was a child of God defined who she was, and her steadfast walk with her Savior proved a firm foundation of all her days. Thelma’s deepest desire was for each one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to personally experience the pursuing, unfailing love of the Lord every day of their lives and, as Psalm 23:6 assures, to one day be in the house of God forever.

On April 28, 1925, Roy and Jenny (Oosting) Gorham welcomed their daughter Thelma to their family in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along with her older sister, Geneva, Thelma grew up in Comstock Park, Michigan, during the Great Depression. At a time when not having much was the norm, Thelma shared a bicycle with her sister and enjoyed roller skating. Her paternal grandmother lived with them, and the family faithfully attended Bethel Reformed Church, where Thelma’s deep roots of faith first grew. Thelma’s first job was for Knapp Avenue Dairy, where her father worked driving a horse and buggy milk cart. Thelma worked in the ice cream shop. As her father never drove, the family walked or took the bus wherever they went.

After graduating from Comstock Park High School, Thelma married Don VanDerSchie. The couple continued their membership at Bethel Reformed and would make the fellowship an important part of their three children’s lives as well. Beginning their married life on the NE side of Grand Rapids, including on Sligh Blvd and Blythefield Acres near Rockford, before settling into their longtime home at 1740 Diamond Street NE.

Around the home, Thelma was meticulous in all she did; she disliked clutter or messes. The house was immaculately clean and organized. She even washed her car hubcaps in the dishwasher each Saturday, so they were clean for Sunday. Thelma also took meticulous care of the journals for her husband’s heating and cooling business. Very comfortable with keeping paper records, she continued her personal bookkeeping on paper into her nineties.

Thelma and Don enjoyed a loving partnership rooted in their mutual faith, respect, and care. As parents, they were very much on the same page, uniform in both thought and actions. They were also social and enjoyed being active with others from church and organizations they volunteered with, including Youth for Christ, the Girl’s Youth Home, which later became Wedgewood Christian Services, and Gospel Films. The family traveled when the kids were young, often to Christian Youth retreats at the Boca Raton Bible Conference or the Youth for Christ event at Winona Lake, Indiana. Thelma loved entertaining in her home. She paid attention to the little details, including consulting her index cards of Christmas buffet recipes and putting her all into each event so everything would be just right. As a result, she would be exhausted after the event.

A big sports fan throughout much of her life, Thelma loved Detroit Tigers baseball and could name each member of the Tiger Roster. She attended some games in person and, in the old days, listened to them on the radio. She also loved football. An avid spectator, she followed football teams and players that she found a connection to through family or friends. In addition to her love of sports, Thelma relished being a grandmother and great-grandmother. As her grandkids grew older, she recognized that she would need to use a computer to communicate with them. Without hesitation, she learned to use a computer, email, and Facebook.

Sadly, Don passed away in 1989. In the face of this great loss, Thelma leaned into her faith and family and continued to live each day to the fullest. She moved to her condo in Grandville in 1990. Thelma worked as a file clerk at a doctor’s office for about ten years until she turned 80 years old, appreciating the chance to contribute and engage in conversation. She continued driving until a few years ago and was a good driver. Just a few months ago, she needed more daily help and moved to the Waterford Place senior living community.

An inspiration to all who were blessed to know her, Thelma’s grace and goodness will long live in the hearts of those she so dearly loved. As we celebrate Thelma’s beautiful life, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying her legacy of faith, hope, and love forward in our own lives. In each moment we choose to embody our faith by leading with our hearts, praying for and serving others, sharing our gifts and talents, celebrating life’s joys, and confidently facing life’s challenges we keep Thelma’s memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

Thelma VanDerSchie, age 99, went home to be with the Lord on September 6, 2024.

She was blessed to be able to love and be loved by those whom God gave her, including those who preceded her in death, her husband, Don, and her sister, Geneva Barker.

Thelma is survived by her children Lois & Thomas VerLee, Donn & Marlene VanDerSchie, Chris & Tom Stoutjesdyk; grandchildren Graham VerLee, Meredith (Brian) Lawser, Nicholas (Stephanie) VanDerSchie, Joel (Janelle) VanDerSchie, Jacquie (Daniel) Gall, Elizabeth (Michael) Keith, Philip (LIz) Stoutjesdyk, Rachel (John) Stoutjesdyk-Duran; 26 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Joyce Locke; as well as several nieces and nephews.

The service to remember and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, September 13, at 12 Noon at Fair Haven Church, 2900 Baldwin Street, where friends are invited to visit with her family beginning at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, Thelma’s family suggests a memorial donation to Hand2hand or Mel Trotter Ministries.

To share a memory, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com