Lorraine Kuiper

For Lorraine Kuiper, finding joy in life was no difficult task. She only had to look into the faces of her family to know that her life was a blessing. A generous, optimistic woman, Lorraine approached her life with enthusiasm, eager to enjoy the times she spent with those she loved most. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Lorraine will be lovingly remembered.

In the year 1927, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Martin and Jenny (Keukelaar) Oliver were focused on one thing - preparing their home for the arrival of a new little life. On April 5, 1927, they welcomed a precious new baby girl into their family, a daughter who they named Lorraine Ruth.

Lorraine was the youngest of Martin and Jenny's two children—she had one older brother, Don. She spent her childhood in Grand Rapids, where her father worked as a printer and her mother was a homemaker. Lorraine attended Creston Christian School and graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High in 1945. Following high school, she attended and graduated from Calvin College. Lorraine worked as a high school math teacher for a short time and then worked as a bank teller.

While Lorraine attended Calvin College, she met a fellow student named Bob Kuiper. Once Bob met Lorraine, their studies became a second priority. On March 31, 1950, Lorraine and Bob exchanged marriage vows at Creston Christian Reformed Church. Their wedding ceremony took place by candlelight during a thunderstorm.

Following their wedding, Lorraine and Bob enjoyed a honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains. They returned to Grand Rapids and settled into an apartment on the city's west side. In 1952, they moved to a home on Union Street N.E., where their first three children were born - Nancy, and twins Marcia and Mary. In 1956, they moved once again to a home on Diamond Avenue N.E., where they had three more children - Ellen, Barb and Dan. They lived in that house for 52 years.

When Lorraine's children were grown and had families of their own, she found joy in being a grandmother. She loved playing games with them and treating them to home-baked cookies. She kept a drawer full of snacks in the kitchen where her grandchildren could help themselves. They looked forward to orange pop, root beer, cheese balls and jelly beans at Grandma's house. As her grandchildren grew and began to date, Lorraine was warm and inviting, eager to welcome new boyfriends or girlfriends into the family with cards and Christmas gifts. She absolutely loved hosting Christmas and always insisted that the celebrations be held at her house. She only let go, with reluctance, after the family had grown so large that the house was nearly bursting at the seams.

A gracious hostess, Lorraine was always ready at the door to welcome her family and friends into her home. The coffee pot was always on. She and Bob shared coffee time together daily, welcoming anyone who wished to join them. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember how she would stand at the window and wave goodbye until they were out of sight. Lorraine enjoyed baking and cooking for her family as well. Her family’s favorites include potato salad, baked beans, spaghetti & meatballs, ham balls, strawberry dessert and molasses cookies.

Lorraine loved the Lord and had a servant’s heart. She enjoyed helping her neighbors, friends and relatives, as well as church family at Riverside Christian Reformed Church. If anyone was in need of a meal or a listening ear, she was available to help. When Bob became ill in his later years, her servant heart was especially evident in her compassionate care for him.

Lorraine loved to share picnics with her family. Many summer weekends, a picnic supper was prepared and the family would head for the lake. The weather didn’t matter, with picnics shared on both warm, calm days and blustery, cold days. She was an avid swimmer and spent hours in the water at Grand Haven Beach, Silver Lake Sand Dunes and many other favorite swimming spots. If the weather was calm with a slight breeze, she might consent to go sailing on the family sail boat as well. These calm-weather sailing days came to be known as “Grandma Days.” Lorraine and Bob spent time every year at a cottage on Silver Lake and came to love it as their second home. Each of their children spent time at the lake with them, creating many cherished memories. They also relished visiting their out-of-town children and grandchildren, traveling every year to visit their homes.

In September 2008, Bob’s illness made it necessary for him to move to the Christian Rest Home. Lorraine moved into Edison Assisted Living to be near Bob. They shared their meals together every day and she was constantly by Bob’s side. In May 2009, Lorraine’s health declined and she moved into the Christian Rest Home in a room right across the hall from Bob.

Lorraine was a generous, caring woman who lived her life with joy and enthusiasm. With her ready optimism and her welcoming spirit, she had a special way of making those around her feel loved and was dearly loved in return. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Lorraine will be dearly missed.

Lorraine died on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at the Christian Rest Home. She was preceded in death by her husband James Robert Kuiper in 2009. Surviving are her children, Nancy and Mark Bouwman, Marcia and Bill Lautenbach, Mary and Ron Konyndyk, Ellen and Steve Alkema, Barb and Tim Baldwin, Dan and Sarah Kuiper; twenty grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Hugh and Eleanor Vander Woude and Chuck and Barb Kuiper.

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 18, 2011, at 11 AM at Riverside Christian Reformed Church, 602 Comstock Blvd. N.E. with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may meet the family Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes, Van Strien—Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Rest Home, 1000 Edison Ave. N.W., 49504 or Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook S.E., 49546. To share a favorite memory or photo and sign Lorraine's online guestbook, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.