Catherine Brouwer

Catherine Brouwer was a woman who lived her life in a small area, geographically speaking – her work, her church, her parents, and her kids’ schools were all within a mile of her home. She never learned to drive (she tried once, but it didn’t go so well!). Her modest physical sphere, however, was paired with an overflowing generosity of spirit. Filled with a deep faith, wise and giving, and surrounded by a large and loving family, Catherine lived a truly rich life – a life that stands as a reminder to us all that depth is much more important than breadth.

Catherine was born on February 26, 1916, to proud parents Peter and Catherine (Pauli) Van Strien. She was born at home, in the family home on Pannel Road NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Catherine was the second-oldest, and grew up with five siblings (two brothers and three sisters). One of Catherine’s favorite childhood memories was visiting Romana Park, where the whole family would enjoy a horse and carriage ride.

Catherine attended Fairview Elementary School, where she met Rena Kloostra, who would be her lifelong friend. She also made several other friendships that would stand the test of time, particularly a group of girls who would eventually call themselves the “Potluck Bunch.” In later years, they would get together monthly for decades, sharing a meal and chatting as they worked on crafts.

As the oldest girl in a family of six, much of the housework and cooking fell to Catherine. She was forced to grow up fast, leaving school after eighth grade to help care for her mother and siblings. Catherine was up to the challenge, however, and mastered practical skills that would help her later on. She kept a very clean “Dutch” house, and was a wonderful cook – every meal included meat, potatoes, and vegetables. She also learned the value of frugality, and managed to cook and care for her family even while on a tight budget.

In her early twenties, Catherine met the man who would be love of her life – George Brouwer – on a blind date. The young couple dated for a few years, and was married on May 25, 1937. Catherine and George settled into married life in their new home on Harding NW, where Catherine would live for most of her adult life.

Catherine and George were blessed with five children: Harvey, Tom, Ken, and Kathie and Carol. Involved and attentive, Catherine was a wonderful mother, who was constantly taking care of and worrying about her children. She passed on valuable life lessons to her children, and all the kids had chores to do around the house. For vacations, the whole family loved to camp, and visited parks including Grand Haven, Silver Lake, Traverse City, and Interlochen. Many of these trips involved Catherine’s siblings as well – she was usually the organizer for the group. George often did a little fishing on these occasions, and the whole family looked forward to Catherine’s pan-fried fish!

In addition to her busy life taking care of a household and raising five children, Catherine was also very active in the community. She was president of the PTA for several years, and played basketball with the mother-daughter teams. She was also very involved in their churches, first Bethel Reformed and later Fairview Reformed. George held various leadership roles in the church, and Catherine did a lot of entertaining to support him in these roles, as well as working in the Ladies Guilds and Circles.

For her whole life, Catherine believed in the importance of family. In addition to caring for her husband and children, she was the matriarch that held her extended family together, often organizing activities or just picking up the phone to say hello. When her parents’ health failed, she cared for them for many years. She also stayed in touch with all her family members, and talked to her sisters daily.

As her kids grew older and left the nest one by one, Catherine had more time to develop her own hobbies. She enjoyed reading, especially Christian novels, and followed her soaps daily. A great cook, she always made sure the house was full of goodies just in case guests stopped by. She was also employed at Meijer’s for a time, and worked in the home improvement area. On the weekends, it was not uncommon for her kids to swing by and take her camping for the weekend.

Tragically, Catherine’s beloved husband George died about twenty years ago. Although she missed him deeply, her independent spirit forced her to go on, making the best of what she had left. She took great comfort from her family, and loved being around her grandchildren.

As the years went by, Catherine’s vision and hearing began to fail, and she needed more help. Her mind was still as sharp as ever, however, and her memory was phenomenal. She could remember the birthdays of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as the names and schedules of the caretakers at her retirement community. For the last few years of her life, Catherine lived at Christian Rest Homes. Social and outgoing, Catherine made friends wherever she went.

Friendly, hard-working, determined and faith-filled, Catherine was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Catherine P. Brouwer went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 4, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and by her son, Harvey Nies. Catherine’s family includes her daughter-in-law Carol Nies; children Tom and Janette Brouwer, Ken and Jane Brouwer, Kathie and John Rowley, and Carol and Jay Piper; her brother, George (Edith) VanStrien; her sister, Betty Zandstra; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Howard Longstreet, Ruth VanStrien, Stanley (Mildred) Brouwer, and Margaret Brouwer; and 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Catherine will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 7, at Orchard Hill Reformed Church, 1465 3 Mile NW. Interment will be in Washington Park Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. and on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Christian Rest Home Foundation are appreciated. Please visit Catherine’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.