Betty L. Proksa's Obituary
Mrs. Betty L. (Wagenmaker) Proksa, age 85, passed away at her home on Sunday, December 11, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was born in Muskegon on July 17, 1937 to Edward and Jeanette (Pierce) Wagenmaker. Betty was a proud 1955 Muskegon Heights High School graduate. She was head cheerleader and was able to cheer her high school basketball team “The Tigers” to State victory in 1955. She enjoyed singing in the school choir and spending time with her friends at All Steak after a football or basketball game. Until just recently, Betty frequently met some of the girls from high school for lunch and was very active in helping plan some of the high school reunions. After high school, she worked for Brunswick and Liberty Loan before retiring from the City of Norton Shores where she served as Clerk. On May 21, 1960, Betty married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Tom. They honeymooned at Niagara Falls and Rhode Island. Together they had two children, Cynthia and Thomas, and enjoyed 62 years of wedded bliss! She was an active member of Dr. Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church where she had been a member of Eve and Ruth Circle and was the President of the Dorcus Circle. She served on the church council for many years, helped plan numerous bazars, and put together many Easter Baskets for the needy each year. Every October you could find Betty baking for weeks, making her famous Kolache cookies to sell at the church bazaar. Her cookies were a recipe that has been passed down to her from her mother-in-law, Christine, from Slovakia. It brought her a lot of joy in baking and selling these amazing cookies. When her children were small, she worked as a cafeteria manager at Roosevelt School so she could be close to her children. She was a room mother for all of her kids school parties, was a Brownie Leader, and was active for many years in the “Mothers March of Dimes”. Throughout the years she made many of her children and grandchildren’s costumes for school plays and holidays. She was truly a hands-on mother and grandmother. Betty was a tremendously selfless, giving, and loving person. She always put everyone else first. Her church, and her enormous love for her family were what was most important, and her grandchildren were the light of her life. She rarely missed her grandchildren’s baseball games, dance recitals, choir and orchestra concerts, and competitive cheer competitions. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Thomas J. Proksa; children, Cynthia McCarl and Thomas E. Proksa; seven grandchildren, Samantha McCarl, Cameron McCarl, Jessica McCarl, Zachary Proksa, Michael Proksa, Andrew Proksa, Adelle Proksa; great-grandchild, Rowan Owczarzak; sister, Kay (Norm) Beebe; brothers, James (Carol) Wagenmaker, Harvey (Judy) Wagenmaker, Louis Wagenmaker; many nieces, nephews, and special life-long friends, Karlene Swiatek and Darlene Kroeze. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Jeanette Wagenmaker; sister, Joanne Vargo; brother-in-law, John Proksa; and father and mother-in-law, John and Christine Proksa. A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Dr. Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church (1860 E. Hile Road, Muskegon, MI 49444) with Pastor Michael Johnson officiating. VISITATION with her family will be one hour prior to her service. MEMORIALS in memory of Betty may be directed to Dr. Martin Luther Church. You may sign her online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com Arrangements by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444.
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