Margaret Zuidema's Obituary
Margaret Zuidema, called Gretchen for 100 years, passed away in her sleep at 11:20 pm on July 2, 2014 at Oak Crest Manor in Spring Lake, Michigan, where she had lived since August 2010. Born on June 6, 1914 in Munich, Germany, she was the daughter of Lorenz and Margareta (Schneider) Wochinger. In 1925, she immigrated to the US with her mother and one of her two brothers at which time they joined her father who had immigrated and settled in NYC in 1923. On December 12, 1936 in Pound Ridge, NY, she married Obe Zuidema whose parents, Wibbe (William) Zuidema and Trijntje Douma were born in the Netherlands and married in Prospect Park, NJ. During her lifetime, Gretchen lived in NYC (1925-1936), Northern NJ (1937-1958), Roxbury, Delaware Co. NY (1958-1978), the Winter Haven, FL area (1978-2006), Cortland, NY (2006-2010) and Spring Lake, MI (2010- 2014). Gretchen was predeceased by her husband of 59 years who died on May 25, 1996 in Winter Haven, FL, her mother (1952 in NYC), her father (1966 in Munich), her brother Alphons (1982 in Sparkill, NY) and her brother Lorenz (1987 in Dachau, Germany). She is survived by her son Larry Zuidema and his wife Heike Michelsen of Lansing, NY; her daughter Mary Walpole and her husband Bruce of Muskegon, MI; her grandchildren: Jim Zuidema (Suzanne) of Pearl River, NY, Judy Zuidema (Marco) of Rovigo, Italy, Karsten Zuidema of Lansing, NY, Mark Walpole (Shari) of Indianapolis, IN, and Kara Oskam (Ron) of Westminster, MD; 12 great-grandchildren; and 2 nephews: Leonard Wochinger (Patrice) and Richard Wochinger (Nina). Gretchen will be remembered for her strong Christian faith; the loving care and support she bestowed on her family; and the high standards she set for all of us. Many of her family who enjoyed celebrating her 100th birthday this year were greeted with the same warm smiles she displayed during most of her life. She was admired by many as a kind and loving person. Gretchen will be buried next to her husband in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Arrangements by The Lee Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 6291 S. Harvey St. (231) 798-1100.
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