Ella B. Postmus

Ella B. Postmus led a life in which she left herself little room for failure, but a lot of room for family, happiness, and love. In her lifetime she was a daughter and a sister, a loving wife, and a caring mother, who always held the greatest expectations for herself and for those around her. Like the antique porcelain objects that she inherited from her mother and cherished so much, she valued quality and the beauty that can be achieved from having the highest standards. She learned early in life that if you work hard enough for anything, you can endure, and that she did. She led a rich life, full of loving family, many great moments, and countless memories.

Ella's story begins near the banks of the mighty Mississippi, in the town of Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is well known for its many culinary and cultural contributions to the American south, including its legendary barbeque and blues music. And it was in Memphis that Ella's parents, Edward and Elsa (Rother) Brauer, decided to lay down their roots and raise their large family. Born at home on January 27, 1915, Ella was the couple's fifth child. Ernest, Walter, Arthur, and Eric were the four older children in the family, making Ella the first girl. Although she may have been the first, she was not the last. Her sister Hilda was born last and would be the baby of the family.

Growing up, Ella seemed to fit in more with her brothers than her younger sister. She was known for being a real tomboy and a bit of a daredevil at that. She had many accidents while riding her brother's bicycle, perhaps while trying to keep up with the boys. Ella's father worked as a painter and a decorator, while her mother ran a small café where Ella worked for some time as a teenager. When she began her freshman year at Helm's High School in Memphis, rock-n-roll music was unheard of, but some years later those same halls would be graced by none other than the king of rock-n-roll himself, Elvis Presley. Around the same time that Ella was starting high school, the American economy began to sink into the Great Depression. As was quite common in those days, she left school a short time later to help out at home, taking care of her mother who was dying of cancer.

Out of school and hard at work, Ella learned during the Depression what it was like to be in need. Although at times it seemed as though the dark cloud that loomed over the country would never leave, Ella found her silver lining when she paid a visit to an osteopath named Dr. George M. Postmus, for a new pair of glasses. Two weeks after her appointment, she and George, the same handsome doctor who had given her the exam, eloped to Arkansas. In 1937 Ella gave birth to the couple's first child, Elsa, followed by their son George in 1938. While the children were very young, the country faced its next challenge in WWII. Supporting the war effort, Ella and George rented rooms to military families of soldiers who had been wounded in the war and were recovering in the local military hospital.

After the war had ended, Ella and her family moved north to Grand Rapids, Michigan. George began a medical practice in their new hometown and Ella worked for him as an assistant. She was also involved in the P.T.A., the Women's Guild of the Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital, and as a den mother for the Cub Scouts. At home she was a great seamstress and an excellent cook and baker. While her specialty was pecan rolls, she also made great whole wheat bread, orange bread, and many German dishes. Her parents were of German/Austrian descent and had imparted some of their rich heritage on her, including German cooking. As a parent she was firm and had little tolerance for foolishness. She set high expectations and held you to them. When Elsa and George were learning to drive, it was Ella who taught them. She was a good driver herself and, as with everything else, she had nothing but the highest standards for her children as well.

In 1958, Ella and George decided to move to the West Coast, but soon discovered that their new home was not for them. That very same year they were back in Grand Rapids, when George fell victim to a heart attack and died. In the years that followed George's sudden death, Ella eventually returned to doing many of the things she had always enjoyed and even a few new things. She joined and became very active in the Widowed Persons Group. She also worked as a dental assistant for some time and held several secretarial positions before retiring at the age of 62. Ella had always been an avid bridge player, so she founded a bridge group that met each week at the Standale Fire Station. Today the group has been in existence for over 25 years. In addition to the many activities she was involved in, Ella was also a talented musician, playing both the piano and the organ. The light musical operettas of the time were always her favorite and for many years she held tickets to the Grand Rapid's Symphony.

In her golden years, Ella found joy in doing things with her children. She loved to travel, and she and Elsa ventured across both the Atlantic and the Pacific on trips to Europe and Hawaii. Ella also found plenty of time to visit with her son George at his home on Spring Lake. He can remember the days he and his mother would sit together and watch all of the activities on the lake. One of the best days of Ella's life was when George married his second wife Mary. She was absolutely thrilled to see him so happy. Apart from her children, she had one other love, pets. She had owned a number of dogs over the years, many of which had been rescued by Elsa. More recently she had a pet cockatiel named Peaches. In the latter part of her life Ella moved into Covenant Village, where she continued to possess high standards and was known for being set in her ways. Only a year and a half ago, she was diagnosed with sarcoma, for which she underwent radiation, and later developed bone cancer. Ella was the last survivor of her siblings and their spouses. Although her family will miss her dearly, they can find joy in their memories and comfort knowing that she led such a long and full life.

Ella B. Postmus passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. George M. Postmus in 1959. Surviving are her children, Elsa and Don Caley of Brinnon, WA., George and Mary Postmus of Spring Lake, two grandchildren, Barton Postmus and Andrea (Travis) Phillips; step-grandchildren, Daniel and Phillip Caley, Jody Drake and Bradley Hettinga; two great grandchildren, Tanner and Johanna Phillips and seven step-great grandchildren, Ryan and Teresa Caley, John and Justin Drake, Jessica Rust, Giulia and Sophia Hettinga. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11AM at the Covenant Village of the Great Lakes, 2520 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W. with interment in Blythefield Memorial Gardens. Friends may meet the family on Friday from 7-9 PM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W. You may view Ella's Life Story Digital Film, leave a memory or sign the guestbook by visiting www.lifestorynet.com