Nellie Moelker

Each day Nellie F. Moelker brought love and happiness into the lives of those closest to her. A loving wife and a devoted mother and grandma, Nellie placed her family at the center of her life. Nellie believed in the importance of good family living, and she was the happiest when her whole family was together.

The year 1916 marked an uncertain time for America and the rest of the world. The Great War was quickly pushing toward new heights in Europe, and thousands of young American men were being called into service. For the William and Alpha DeMann family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it was an uncertain time for a different reason. On February 12, 1916 their only child Nellie was born; her mother, however, would not survive the birth. Her father then decided to give his newborn baby to Nicolas Kwant and his wife Minnie, who raised young Nellie as if she were their natural daughter.

Nellie enjoyed a peaceful childhood filled with lots of travel. The Kwants lived on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, where Nicolas worked as a master furniture maker for the John Widdicomb Furniture Company. His job allowed him enough time to travel, and he frequently headed around the country with the company of his family. Nellie grew up alongside Corrine. The two girls were not biological sisters, but the love shown to each of them brought them together. They lived as sisters throughout their lives.

Nellie was a social young girl who made friends easily. At an early age she became close with Marian Pennock-Thompson, marking the beginning of a friendship that would last a lifetime. Nellie attended Baxter Christian Grade School before moving on to Grand Rapids Christian High School, where she graduated in June of 1934. During these early years she developed a love for swimming which she would hold onto for most of her life. Besides swimming, Nellie enjoyed playing the piano, a skill she would continue to refine throughout her life, and keeping active in various drama organizations. She was a very good student and graduated with honors. In the years immediately following highschool, Nellie worked in bookkeeping jobs and survived a serious bout with scarlet fever.

In the year 1938, Nellie was introduced to a handsome young man named Martin Moelker. A courtship soon evolved, and after two years of dating they were married on March 28, 1940. The early years of their marriage were spent at army air corps bases in Indianapolis, Indiana and Laredo, Texas until Martin was discharged at the end of World War II. Their marriage lasted fifty one years, until Martin passed away. The secret to their compatibility was their shared beliefs: they both believed in a hard work ethic and traditional family values. And also, Martin had a good sense of humor which always kept Nellie and the family laughing.

After 13 years of marriage, Nellie and Martin were finally blessed with four beautiful children, Dawn, Dale, Karla, and Kevin. Nellie dedicated herself to her new role as a mother. With the birth of her eldest, she left her job at Baxter Laundry. She worked hard to make sure that the family had plenty of opportunities to spend quality time together. Whether it was arranging a vacation or putting together a nice dinner, Nellie always found ways to bring her family together. Pets were always welcome in the house, and over the years the Moelkers had their share of dogs, cats, and hamsters.

As parents, Nellie and Martin’s greatest success was instilling their core values into their children. They taught their kids that a good, healthy family is built around honesty, church life, and time spent together.

Nellie was a devout Christian who enjoyed volunteering for her congregation. She was involved in her church as a member of the Ladies Guild, and she also helped out with the PTA at her children’s school. Nellie was one of the co-organizers of the Brook Cherith Pioneers Girls Camp.

Once the kids grew into adults and Martin retired, Nellie and he had more time to spend together. They enjoyed traveling, and visited destinations like Florida and North Michigan. At home Nellie enjoyed spending time in her yard, either feeding her birds or paying attention to her garden. Her favorite flower, the African Violet, always bloomed beautifully. Nellie also enjoyed knitting, sewing, and crocheting. She was an avid reader, a skill she passed onto her children.

Nellie was very devoted to her family throughout her life. In her later years, one of her greatest pleasures was to watch her family grow with the births of grandchildren. Her favorite memories were reading to her children and grandkids when they were very young.

Nellie was always full of love and warmth for her family and close friends. She will be greatly missed and frequently remembered by the many people whose lives she touched.

Nellie died on March 17, 2005. She was preceded in death by her husband Martin (Rene) in 1991. Nellie is survived by her children: Dawn Moelker and John Rinn; Dale and Jodi Moelker; Karla and Joe Lillie; and Kevin and Julie Moelker. Also surviving are her grandchildren Bradley, Marissa, and Elizabeth Moelker, Gabriel, and Gavin Lillie, her sister and brother-in-law, Corrine and William Weeks, her sisters-in-law Marie Moelker, and Maude Margaret Moelker. A celebration of life service will be held at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien–Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave. NE, on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 1:30 PM with Rev. James De Witt officiating. Interment will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends may meet with Nellie’s family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Please visit Nellie’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave your memories of her or make a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association.