Dorothy Hollebeek

Dot Hollebeek never needed the limelight to shine brightly. She was a glowing, glorious woman, kind and caring, selfless and supportive to those around her. Dot devoted her life to her family, her friends, and her faith, a life she delighted in sharing with those closest to her. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, whose love lives on in her family today.

Dot’s story began on a cool spring day in 1920, as the trees and flowers began to bloom in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were times of great change in this country, as Americans began the Roaring 20s with a slumping economy, and Prohibition became law of the land. On April 21, 1920, Theodore and Hattie (Vander Wall) Krikke celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl at their home, a daughter they named Dorothy Lillian.

Dot was the baby of six children, joining her big siblings Ada, Bessie, Martin, Hilda, and Ted. Her parents had immigrated from the Netherlands years before, first settling in Utica, New York, before moving to a home at 1048 Crosby NW in Grand Rapids. Dot’s dad owned a meat market on Leonard NW, while her mother cared for the kids and the home.

Dot lived a delightfully typical childhood for the time, roller skating at the Coliseum rink on Division Avenue, going to West Side Christian School and playing with her friends. She was raised in the Alpine Avenue Christian Reformed Church, where the basis of her lifelong faith in the Lord was formed, and later she and Fred attended Westend Christian Reformed Church after Alpine CRC closed.

The Krikke family also went on great vacations together, including train trips to California to visit Hattie’s brother and his family, as well as trips to Washington State. Dot had such fond memories of those adventures.

Her childhood wasn’t without its challenges, however. Her brother Martin died of leukemia shortly after getting married, and her brother Teddy died of diphtheria as a young boy. When Dot was a little girl, she went sledding on her street, and suffered a bad accident, when the metal runners of a sled pierced her leg and her bone became infected. She developed osteomyelitis as a result, and missed a lot of time at West Side Christian School.

After she graduated from school, Dot stayed home to help around the house, which was common in those days. She would have a home and family of her own to consider soon enough.

One day Dot and her mother went shopping at the stores on Leonard Street, where she happened upon a handsome young man named Fred Hollebeek, who worked at the Van’t Hof Funeral Home there. There was an instant attraction between the two, and she invited Fred to the Sunday School teachers’ banquet at Alpine, an offer he readily accepted.

The two began dating for several years, eventually fell in love and were married on September 24, 1943. The world had gone to war by then, and so, too, did Dot’s beloved Fred. He was awaiting orders to ship out overseas, so, in order to get married, Fred went AWOL from Ft. Custer and the couple married in Grand Rapids at Alpine Ave. Christian Reformed Chruch. Their honeymoon consisted of a day at the Warm Friend Hotel in Holland, and a second night in Kalamazoo and then Fred went back to Ft. Custer.

The newlyweds jumped from base to base to start their marriage, living in Mississippi and Ft. Lewis in Washington before Fred was shipped out to the Philippines. When her husband returned home, he went to mortuary school in Chicago, and the couple then moved near Detroit, where he managed a funeral home. Eventually, they moved back to Grand Rapids, where they bought out Greenwood Funeral Home, establishing Hollebeek Funeral Home.

They lived above the funeral home in a little apartment, where they soon raised their family too. The couple was blessed with three wonderful kids over the years, Martin, Lois and Ruth, who filled their parents with pride and joy.

Dot was a wonderfully supportive wife and mother, helping with the business, and caring for the home and her children. She was an incredible cook, from her pea soup with metwurst, to her beef roast with mashed potatoes and pork steak with scalloped potatoes. She also made tempting baked treats, like Scotcheroos, blond brownies and chocolate chip cookies, too. She enjoyed eating out especially at Lakos in Grand Rapids, Stearns in Muskegon, and the Schnitzelbank, too.

Dot was very active in the PTA at West Side Christian School, and was active in their church, as well, as a member of the Ladies Guild and the Royal Circle. She also volunteered for many years at the Christian Rest Home, where she was later on staff.

Due to the demands of the family business, vacations were few and not usually very far, staying at nearby Hess Lake or traveling up and down the lakeshore. They did eventually buy a travel trailer, and visited Calgary, Alberta, Vancouver, Washington, and Utah, which Dot loved so much. Later in life, Dot and Fred began wintering in Florida.

At heart, Dot was a simple woman, who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. She loved listening to Christian music on the radio, or the male gospel quartets she enjoyed so much. She loved knitting and bowled on a league for many years, as well. Most of all, Dot enjoyed her family and her faith, which enriched and rewarded her. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their visits always brightened her days.

Eventually, Dot’s health began to decline, and in April of 2008, she battled pneumonia and also a staph infection. She lingered until Wednesday, May 21, 2008 affording her and family time to say goodbye, including grandchildren living around the country and even in South America. By the grace of God she was ready to leave this life and its frailties, meet her Savior, and be ushered into the new mansion that had been prepared for her.

“Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. With your advice you guide me, and in the end you will take me to glory. As long as I have you, I don't need anyone else in heaven or on earth. My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever."

Psalm 73: 23-26

These were the last words that Dorothy heard this side of heaven, echoing in her heart as she left this world behind. They were so fitting for her, a woman whose strength was always found in her faith, and in her family. Today her strength, her faith, and her love, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Dot is survived by her husband, Fred, children Martin and Mary Hollebeek of Grand Rapids, Lois and Ken Schepel of Phoenix, AZ, Ruth and Gord Bylsma of Grand Rapids; nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11AM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW with her pastor, Rev. Henry Admiraal of Westend Christian Reformed Church officiating. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may meet the family at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to Christian Rest Home Foundation, 1000 Edison NW 49504 West Side Christian School Foundation, 955 Westend NW, 49504 would be appreciated. To share a memory or photo or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.lifestorynet.com