Dena Vanderlaan's Obituary
Mrs. Dena Vanderlaan, age 96, went to be with her Lord Friday morning, December 5, 2003, at the home of her daughter, Lois. She was born July 19, 1907 in Reeman, MI to Richard & Anna (Drost) Tanis. Following her marriage to George Vanderlaan on August 23, 1928 she moved to Muskegon where she had resided most of her life, before moving to Florida and then Johannesburg. Dena had been a charter member of the former Pine Grove Reformed Church of Muskegon and of Lake Worth Christian Reformed Church in Florida. SURVIVORS include 3 children, Howard J. (Kathleen) Vanderlaan of Boyton Beach, FL, Lois (Charles) Jager of Johannesburg and Joyce (Gordon) Herman of Grand Rapids; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Wayne (Kay) Tanis of Grand Rapids; 3 sisters-in-law, Christine Tanis, Ida Vanderlaan and Beatrice VanderJagt. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; 1 son, Robert; 1 grandson, Gary Vanderlaan, and 1 great-grandson, Jamie Vanderlaan, five brothers and two sisters. SERVICES will be 11 AM Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at Unity Reformed Church (1521 Porter Rd.) with the Rev. Dr. Keith Tanis and the Rev. Kenneth Vanderlaan officiating. VISITATION with Dena’s family will be 2-4 & 7-9 PM Tuesday at
Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc.737 Apple Avenue, 231-726-5210.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS to Hospice of Michigan or Unity Reformed Church will be appreciated. Share memories with the family at their Online Guest Book @ www.sytsemafh.com
What’s your fondest memory of Dena?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dena?
Share a story where Dena's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dena you’ll never forget.
How did Dena make you smile?