Theresa Radeck

Loving, compassionate, energetic, and kind, Theresa Jean Radeck lived a life rooted in faith and rich in family and friends. A true servant of God, Theresa loved the Lord and instilled Jesus’ love in her children and grandchildren, and lived her faith every day of her life. Though quiet in public, Theresa lived a fun life, filled with laughter and treasured memories of caring for her family. A devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, Theresa will long be remembered and missed by those she so dearly loved.

Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1934 saw many celebrated firsts. Flash Gordon made his debut while Fuji Photo Film first captured memories. The Three Stooges took center stage in their first short, while the nation also met Donald Duck. The rays of Hope peeked through the clouds of despair in America when unemployment decreased to 22,% marking the turning point in the Great Depression. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in the home of John and Jennie (VanNetten) Nyholt as they welcomed their daughter, Theresa, to their family on July 18 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Theresa’s parents were both born in the Netherlands. Her father first came to America in 1920 by ship, entering through Ellis Island, and later returned to the Netherlands to bring back his wife and their first child, Rena. While her mother dedicated herself to homemaking, her father was a plaster man by trade and settled in Michigan because the Great Lakes reminded him of the North Sea. The youngest of six, Theresa was very close to all her siblings. Along with Rena, Elsie, Gertrude, Frank, and Eli, Theresa grew up in the family home on Crosby St. NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Despite having lost the house during the Depression, they somehow managed to get it back afterward. The family enjoyed celebrating holidays at home with a big meal and hosting birthday parties at the rented log cabin at Ideal Park in Wyoming, Michigan. They also vacationed “up north” each year at a cabin on Lake Ann, Michigan, and at Tahquamenon Falls. As a child, Theresa enjoyed bicycling, but she did not get her own bike until she was a teenager. She also liked sewing, reading, and doing chores with her mother. She was a good singer, an excellent seamstress, and very skilled at shorthand and typing. Both studious and social, Theresa was the only girl in her family to graduate from high school. She had close friendships with her girlfriends, and after graduating from Grand Rapids High School in 1952, she traveled across the western part of the country with them. Though she did most of the driving, she was very good at navigating and mapping out their routes. In her twenties, Theresa worked at the Grand Rapids Public Library; she was super smart and was told by employers that she was college material. She also had an interest in cars and was proud to purchase a baby blue Plymouth.All of Theresa’s brothers and brothers-in-law served in World War II throughout France. Their absences were compounded by minimally available communications. For quite some time after each of the men left, there was no way for their families to know anything going on. The woman grew especially close, worrying and hopefully waiting for their loved ones safety. Fortunately, they all returned home safely, forming Theresa’s lifelong, passionate support for those in the military.As members of West Leonard Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Theresa and her family attended services there regularly. When William Radeck, a young Army veteran, began attending services, Theresa was drawn to his strong faith. In little time, Theresa and William began dating and falling deeply in love. With their hearts set on sharing the future, the happy couple married on June 15, 1962, at Bristolwood Chapel, joyfully beginning their more than 40-year marriage. The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula which boasts of beautiful sunsets and a glorious shoreline, before settling into their new lives in the Grand Rapids area. Blessed to become a mother in 1963 when her daughter Sharon was born, and welcoming two more children, Susan and Steven, Theresa devoted herself to being a homemaker. She loved her children very much and was a semi-strict and disciplined parent whose parenting phrases often included, “Do as I say,” “Don’t talk back,” and “Because I say so.” Theresa led devotions at the dinner table every meal and was Super “Dutch” clean. Her children were expected to do chores on Saturday and were not paid as they were taught to do this as contributing members of a family. Very frugal, Theresa believed in paying cash only, never using credit cards, and saving up for purchases. Always thrifty, the kids wore hand me down clothes and anything that was broken was fixed versus being replaced. Christmas time always inspired Theresa’s generosity. During the 1970s and 1980s Theresa worked part time as a secretary at Columbia, Richard’s Bedding, and The Gallmeyer & Livingston Company. Theresa found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She liked to cook and was very good at making traditional Dutch meals. She had a regular meal schedule for the week, and her potato salad and “whopper pie” were unrivaled. Camping in the camper trailer or renting cabins up north with her family was always a good time. The family also made an epic trip to Gettysburg, inspired by William’s passion for the history of the Civil War. Theresa loved to sing and always had the radio turned on and tuned into WFUR-FM. She joyfully sang along to all of her favorite Christian songs, especially those sung by Bill and Gloria Gaither. In quieter times, she enjoyed reading religious and inspirational books. Very active in her church community, Theresa taught Bible School for many years and typed and printed the weekly church bulletin.

In retirement, Theresa and William enjoyed being homebodies and trail walking, bird watching, hiking beach trails in Ludington, Traverse City, Manistee, and the Kal-Haven trail in Kalamazoo. Theresa enjoyed going out for a meal at her favorite places, including Loved Russ’s, Arnie’s, and Bob Evans restaurants. As she aged, she also became very attached to the home she and William built.

As we celebrate Theresa’s beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories of the wonderful woman we were so blessed to know. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying her legacy of unwavering faith, hope, and love forward. In each moment we lead with our hearts, choose kindness and compassion, generously share our gifts with others, enjoy the good company of our loved ones, enjoy a long walk on a favorite trail, joyously sing our favorite songs, and gather for a wonderful meal with our families, we keep Theresa’s memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

Theresa Jean Radeck passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home and in the company of her family on Friday, April 10, 2026.

She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the summer of 1934 to the late John and Jennie [VanNetten] Nyholt. Along with her parents, Theresa is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, William, who died in 2009, daughter Sharon Tubergen, and great-granddaughter Mercy Annette Tubergen.

Theresa was the last surviving of her 5 older siblings. Theresa is survived by her daughter, Susan (Rich) Campbell, and son, Steven (Lisa Evilsizer) Radeck, as well as by grandchildren, Jessica (Stephen Blackwell) Prys, Melissa (Nate) VanMalsen, Rhiannon (Nate) Rogers, Joseph (Meleah) Tubergen, Dakota Prys and great-grandchildren Carson, Chase, Kobin, Selah, Phillip, and Gideon. She leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Per Theresa’s wishes, she will be laid to rest next to William and near other family members at a private ceremony at Washington Park Cemetery in Grand Rapids. An event to celebrate Theresa’s life is forthcoming. Please consider making a memorial contribution to Elara Hospice: https://elara.com/locations/grand-rapids-mi/Visit heritagelifestory.com, where you can archive a memory or photo and sign her guestbook.