Geraldine Ruth "Geri" Van Farowe's Obituary
Geraldine Ruth Van Farowe (Geri), age 98, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, April 25, 2026, surrounded by family. She was born in Grand Rapids, MI on January 26, 1928, to Oliver and Elsie (Scharlow) Wallin. She graduated from Union High School and then worked for a physician’s office. On April 26, 1947, she married Donald Van Farowe in Grand Rapids at Westminster Presbyterian Church, her family Church. They moved to the Lansing area where Don began his lifetime profession with The State of Michigan Health Department and began the radiation control program. Geri worked as a secretary for the State of Michigan Transportation Department in those early years but spent most of her life as a homemaker raising her family. Geri was a devoted wife and a loving mother. Faith and family were the most important things to her.
Geri and Don attended North Presbyterian Church and later became founding members of Immanuel Community Reformed Church where she sang in the choir, started the church library, served on the women’s guild and developed many lifelong friends. Geri was also a volunteer escort for Sparrow Hospital for many years. Geri and Don enjoyed camping and traveling and also spent winters in Lake Worth, FL near church friends. Geri was an avid reader, writer of poetry and faithfully maintained correspondence or calls with family and friends. She moved to Spring Lake to be near her daughter 8 years ago. Geri enjoyed many trips to Higgins Lake where she spent special times with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We are thankful for the many years God gave us with Geri. She was full of love, kindness and encouragement to family and friends. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her daughter, Janine (Steve) Swiftney, daughter-in-law Candace Van Farowe; grandchildren, Steven (Monica) Swiftney, Jr., and Christian (Mike) Wiegand; great grandchildren, Gavin and Madelyn Swiftney, Elizabeth, Matthew and Paul Wiegand; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Van Farowe; son, Bruce Van Farowe; grandson, Chad Swiftney; her parents; brothers, Lea (Eleanor) and Don (Yvonne) Wallin; sister, Dorothy (Bud) Koessel and a niece and a nephew.
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 9, 2026, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI 49444. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Refreshments will be served immediately following the service. Interment will take place at Spring Lake Township Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to Immanuel Community Reformed Church at 3200 Delta River Dr., Lansing MI 48906 or Harbor Hospice at 1050 Western Ave Suite 400, Muskegon, MI 49441. Sign the online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com
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