Lois Ilene (Hoogerwerf) DeBaar

Lois Ilene DeBaar was welcomed home to be with her Lord and Savior on October 7, 2015. She left us peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. For 87 years she leant to us her beautiful voice, and she is now eternally blessed to be singing in a choir of angels.

Born June 4, 1928 to Dorothy and Joe Hoogerwerf, Lois was one of four children. She spent her childhood in Muskegon, Michigan before moving to Grand Rapids and attending Ottawa Hills High School. It was shortly after her high school graduation that she met and married her beloved husband, George DeBaar. On September 27 of this year, they joyously celebrated 69 years of marriage. 

Lois was first and foremost, a dedicated mother to their four children. She found great delight  raising them in an immaculate home full of faith and devotion to our loving God. While her number one priority was always family, Lois also found gratification joining the workforce at Bell Telephone Company and was a longtime employee at Herman Miller. It gave her great pride to work as the front desk receptionist there, as a beautiful and social butterfly, she was the perfect fit for such a career. After her retirement, she and George began to spend their winters in Vero Beach. They continued to bask in their retirement and the warm sunshine of Florida for 10 years before deciding to stay home in Grand Rapids to spend their time with family. 

Lois is preceded in death by her brothers, Robert and Burton Hoogerwerf, and her son-in-law Ward Duyser. She will be dearly missed by her husband, George J. DeBaar; her sister, Jan Turner-Colburn and her children, Dan (Luanne) DeBaar, Susan Duyser, Jack (Marcia) DeBaar, Kevin (Tracy) DeBaar, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. 

We, the family of Lois, are so incredibly blessed to have been on the receiving end of her affection and adoration. She truly was a warmhearted soul, full of compassion and selfless love. While we immensely grieve the loss of our beautiful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, we take solace in remembering the kind and caring woman that Lois was. Together we will hold tight to the knowledge that we will one day be reunited with her in Heaven.  

A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 11 from 3 to 5pm at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 3:30pm on Monday in the chapel at The Terraces at MapleCreek. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Association or Mel Trotter Ministries.

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