Mary Postema

Humble, generous, and strong-minded, Mary Ann Postema had the heart of a servant. She lived out the words of Philippians 2:3-4, “Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Whether it was helping church members, teaching little children, or welcoming many people into her home, Mary strove to use her talents to lift others up and point them to the Lord.

After World War II ended in 1945, the world breathed a sigh of relief and started looking forward to times of peace and happiness. Family and community had provided some sense of stability during the war, and in the years following, that remained true. The birth rate climbed steadily in the United States post-war, and on July 13, 1948, Edward and Ruth (Ackley) Pikul of Palmer, Massachusetts, welcomed the first of their “baby boomer” children, Mary Ann, into the world. Mary grew up in western Massachusetts with her two sisters, who were both born within a few years of her. As the oldest and with her own ideas about the “right” way to do things, Mary was at times accused of being bossy by the other girls, but they weathered typical sibling conflicts and remained good friends over the years.

Mary and her sisters enjoyed a classic childhood, riding their bikes and playing with friends in the neighborhood. They lived near a lake, which provided many opportunities for summer fun such as swimming and sailing, and they also spent time outdoors on family camping trips. Mr. Pikul wanted the girls to enjoy their childhoods, so he encouraged them to make the most of their free time in the summer instead of looking for jobs, although Mary worked at Camp Northview during high school. Ed and Ruth were committed to their local church, and Mary’s early years serving alongside her parents were foundational in the development of her faith.

Mary attended several elementary and middle schools and graduated from Palmer High School. After graduation, she started to feel drawn away from Massachusetts. She heard about Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which would later become Cornerstone University. She made the move to Michigan and took religious education classes with the goal of becoming a church secretary. Over the next few years, her sisters followed her to school in Michigan.

After graduating, Mary worked at the school for a couple of years and then found a job at Calvary Baptist Church in Highland, Indiana. She had only been working there for a few weeks when a young man named Timothy Postema offered her a ride home after church and they enjoyed burgers and ice cream together. That was the beginning of a lasting and loving relationship. They were wed at Faith Baptist Church in Massachusetts, and moved to Tim’s home in Griffith, Indiana, to start their life together.

Mary and Tim’s family grew quickly, with three sons born within three years of each other. Mary’s mother had been widowed several years earlier and she joined them near Griffith. When the boys were younger, Mary helped out at the family paint and floor covering business, and the flexible schedule allowed her to focus on her main priority: serving her family. She worked hard to make home comfortable for Tim and the boys, and she also made sure that the boys’ friends always felt welcome. The five of them enjoyed countless summer trips, sometimes camping in their pop-up, spending weekends on Hill Lake in Warsaw, Indiana, or traveling to the East Coast to visit family.

With three growing boys and a husband to feed, it was a blessing that Mary loved to cook. She was most known for her baking, delighting the family with her Hoho and carrot cakes. She also decorated birthday cakes and frequently prepared desserts for funerals. Her potato salad was another favorite. She did a lot of canning, storing up fruit, vegetables, and applesauce to last through the winter. Most of her recipes were recorded only in her memory.

In 1990, the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Mary had enjoyed her college years. They found a church family at Highland Hills Baptist Church, and providentially a house right across the parking lot was available for them. After settling into the church for a bit, Mary applied to be the church secretary, and served in that role for twenty-five years. Due to the convenient location of her house, she could easily go back and forth between the buildings.

Every Sunday, Mary and Tim welcomed others into their home for dinner, just as her parents had always done. On holidays, she invited those without a place to go to join their family, always willing to make room for more. Her hospitable nature extended to the children of their church, and she taught Sparkies in AWANA for thirty years. Every week she spent hours preparing, determined to offer the Lord and the children her very best efforts.

Mary had several hobbies and enjoyed both indoor and outdoor activities. She liked reading, sewing, and cross-stitching, and in the summer she spent a lot of time in her garden, growing flowers and vegetables. After the boys were grown and she and Tim had more free time, they utilized their opportunities to travel, visiting the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and even Romania to spend time with their son and his family. They continued to enjoy camping and spent their last winter in Florida.

One of Mary’s greatest joys was being a grandmother. She taught her grandkids to cook, can, snap beans, set the table, and clean. She also made precious memories with them, reading to them, encouraging them, and praying for them. She made sure that all her grandchildren knew they were loved.

For the last two years of her life, Mary faced a battle with cancer. She was thankful that the treatments were fairly easy until the last couple of months. She considered herself blessed to be able to visit with many friends and family who came to see her near the end of her life. Her commitment to the Lord and to her family has been an example to all who knew her and will continue to influence generations to come.

Mary died on Friday, May 17, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Tim; their children John (Kerry) Postema, Andrew (Leah) Postema, and Luke Postema; grandchildren Josiah, Ella, Hannah, Grace (Riley), Rose (fiancé Malachai Walker), Wayne, Jacob, and Clara; a great-granddaughter, Andi; her mother, Ruth Pikul; sisters Jane (Jim) Markle and May (Paul) Blando; brother-in-law Don (Gabrielle) Postema; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A service to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 21, at 11 AM at Highland Hills Baptist Church. Friends are invited to visit with her family on Monday, May 20, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Interment will be in Allendale Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions to ABWE PACT Romania Ministry Center. To share a memory or photo or to sign her online guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com.