Sandi Meyer

Sandi Meyer was a woman of true character, with a deep compassion for others and a selfless, giving spirit, a passion only exceeded by the love she held for her family and grandchildren who she held so dear to her heart. Sandi had a full, caring heart and everyone who spent time with her felt the warmth of her presence.

1945 was a pivotal year for the United States. In February of that year, the famous photo of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima was taken and in April, former President Franklin Roosevelt died and President Harry Truman authorized the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later that year. Life wasn’t all doom and gloom though for Lawrence and Alice (Schuelke) Marcusse of Grand Rapids, Michigan. On April 7, 1945, the couple delighted in welcoming the birth of their first child, a beautiful daughter they named Sandi. She eventually became the doting big sister to three siblings: Larry, Roger and Mary Ann (who died at two days old).

Sandi enjoyed a typical childhood growing up in their family home at 1619 North NE in Grand Rapids. Her parents both worked to support their family – her father worked in a furniture factory while her mother was a factory worker at Kelvinator. Sandi attended Immanuel Lutheran School, and spent much of her leisure time riding her bike, hanging out with her girlfriend, Diane, and getting into her fair share of mischief along the way. Because both of her parents work, it became part of Sandi’s responsibility to take care of her two younger brothers, something she did with great pride. As a result, Sandi was close to her brothers growing up, and honed some great cooking skills! In addition to being a great big sister, Sandi was a good student and member of the choir at Creston High School, where she graduated in 1963.

It was while in high school that Sandi met her future husband, Casey Meyer, while waiting for a bus. At the time, Casey was working as a repairman for E.D. Miller Frigidaire Service, and it wasn’t long before the two began dating. After a 3-year courtship, Sandi and Casey were happily married on April 11, 1963, in the living room of his parents’ home; the reception followed in the basement. The newlyweds settled into married life together in an apartment at 426 Spencer Street for a year before buying their first home at 426 Curtis Street. Sandi helped supplement their income by working at her Uncle Oscar’s shoe repair business on Plainfield NE, which she thoroughly enjoyed!

Sandi and Casey were blessed with four wonderful children: Carl (1963), Beth (1966), Randy (1968) and Casey (1975). Sandi was a devoted and loving mother, though strict too (which wasn’t always appreciated by her kids). She made sure to teach her children good habits and strong values that would guide them through their lives. The family was longtime members and faithful attenders of East Leonard Christian Reformed Church. With her amazing culinary skills, Sandi enjoyed cooking big meals for her family, which included their favorites – roast beef, mashed potatoes and wilted leaf lettuce salad. However, whenever they went out, Sandi feasted on her favorites - crab legs, lobster or prime rib. In later years, when Sandi was blessed with 11 grandchildren, she poured the same amount of love into these relationships as she did with her own children. Nothing made her happier than spoiling her grandkids, taking her granddaughters for a day of shopping and attending as many school activities of theirs she could.

Time together as a family was always important to Sandi and Casey, and they regularly had Tuesday night family night at their house with their kids and grandkids. They also enjoyed trips together to Pentwater, Cedar Point and Florida. On one trip to the east coast, they came across a condo in Sunset Beach North Carolina that they eventually purchased. Here, Sandi's favorite hobbies were laying in the sun and shelling when the tide was low. Many wonderful memories were made at the condo when her family visited during their spring breaks. When not sharing moments with their family, Sandi and Casey enjoyed being members of the Grand Rapids Antique Car Club, which they joined in 1989. As the proud owners of a 1959 Pontiac Catalina, they attended many parades, tours and nursing home activities. Then in 1998, they added a 1932 Chevy sedan to their collection and showed it off until Sandi was too ill to participate in these activities. Outside of old cars, Sandi loved listening to 50s and contemporary Christian music, and was an avid reader. She would read 2 or 3 books a week of fiction, religious works and murder mysteries.

Sandi had the heart of a caregiver. With a profound compassion for others, she always looked for ways to help and was the first to offer a helping hand. She lent her compassion and unrelenting sense of humor to everyone around her and in doing so, brightened many lives. Yet, Sandi was also opinionated and didn’t back down when she knew she was right (which was most of the time). For Sandi, once someone was a friend, they were a friend to the end and she would do anything for them. Plagued with health problems, Sandi had a CAT scan about a week and a half ago that showed tumors in her brain that had metastasized from lung cancer. Sandi jumped willingly into the arms of Jesus while surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, June 3, 2010, at the age of 65.

Sandi was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Marcusse. She is survived by her husband, Casey; her children, Carl Meyer, Beth and John Rosendall, Randy and Diane Meyer, Casey and Mandy Meyer, Sue and Dave Dykema; grandchildren: Nikki, Renee, Stephanie, Amber, Jacob, Jonathan, Madeline, Nolan, Cade, Lydia and Joshua; her parents, Alice and Mike Bolhuis; brothers, Larry and Pat Marcusse, Roger and Sue Marcusse; brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, Ginny (Bob dec’d) Meyer, Bob and Doris Winkel, Bill and Mary Abel; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 7, at East Leonard Christian Reformed Church, 1027 E. Leonard, Grand Rapids, with interment in Fairplains Cemetery. Friends may meet the family on Sunday, June 6, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van’t Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to the East Leonard CRC Christian Education Trust Fund. Please visit Sandi’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book.