Mary Ellen Thomas' Obituary
Mary Ellen Thomas, age 74, of Spring Lake passed away early Friday, April 20, 2007, at her home. She was born June 16, 1932, in Grand Rapids to John and Mayme (Fritz) Knape, and she married Robert W. Thomas on June 22, 1957, in East Grand Rapids.
Mrs. Thomas graduated from East Grand Rapids High School in 1951 and from the University of Miami in 1955. Prior to her move to the Tri-Cities area in 1962, she had worked as a school teacher in Grand Rapids and as a water ski instructor at the Fontaine Bleau in Miami Beach, Florida. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake, St. Mary’s Library Guild, the Spring Lake Country Club, the Spring Lake Yacht Club, the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and Circle of Friends. She was a former “Crest Kid,” and she also introduced the “Prayer Blanket” to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in 2005. Mrs. Thomas was an avid water skier, and she enjoyed water skiing at Cypress Gardens and Gulf Stream Race Track. She also enjoyed snow skiing, golf, boating, tennis, bowling, sewing, crafts, and world traveling. Above all, Mrs. Thomas displayed a tremendous love for her Lord and for her husband, family, and friends, as well as an inspiring love of life. Her “fighting spirit” was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her loving husband, Robert; four daughters: Lisa (Mark) Sweeney of Montgomery, Texas, Teresa (Martin) Jennings of Fishers, Indiana, Tammy (Timothy) Stanton of Chicago, IL, and Linda (Christopher) Walz of Bel Air, Maryland; two sons, Chris (Sherry) Thomas of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Randolph Thomas of Vancouver B.C.; fifteen grandchildren: Marisa and Megan Sweeney, Connor, Brenden, and Owen Jennings, Ryan, Jack, Kaleigh, and Joseph Stanton, Madeline, Michael, and Mitchell Walz, Dylan and Crystal Thomas, and Jennifer (Rich) Casale; two sisters, Geraldine (David) Getzoff of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Mildred (William) Smolenski of Grand Haven; a brother, Herb (Glenna) Knape of Grand Rapids; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters: Charlotte Andrea and Winefred Knape, and a brother-in-law, Matt Andrea.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake with Rev. Leonard Sudlik as celebrant. Friends may meet the family 5-8 p.m. Monday, April 23, at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Spring Lake with a Vigil Service at 7:45 p.m. Interment will be in Spring Lake Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mary Ellen’s name may be made to Hospice of North Ottawa Community, http://www.noch.org/hospice.html. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
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