Arlene E. (Hoppough) Battjes

Arlene Elizabeth (Hoppough, Chamberlain) Battjes, age 99, of Grand Rapids, MI passed quietly into the care of her lord Friday, November 25, 2016. Arlene was born in Belding, MI on March 1, 1917, the first of three daughters to Fayette and Genevieve (Sears) Hoppough (both deceased). The young family moved to Grand Rapids where Arlene graduated with honors from South High School. She attended Parsons Business School and then, with the aide of a scholarship, Olivet College where she graduated in 3 years with a major in Chemistry. Following graduation she married her college sweetheart, Dr. Robert Bruce Chamberlain DDS (deceased) of East Grand Rapids, MI. She held several secretarial jobs to support her family through the WWII years while her husband served our country in the Army Air Corp and later while he attended University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She helped establish Dr. Chamberlain’s dental practice in Cedar Springs, MI serving as office manager, business manager and receptionist while simultaneously being a great mom and housewife. Together Arlene and Robert raised four children Robert Bruce Chamberlain Jr. (Pamela), Lynn Campbell Downer (Hugh), Jena Arlene Chamberlain (Michael), and Jodi Cameron Seaton (William). Following the early passing of her husband Robert, Arlene expanded her family through marriage to John (Jack) Battjes (deceased) of East Grand Rapids, MI. Additions to her family were stepchildren Terrie Mitchell (Jay), John Marshall Battjes (deceased) (Leslie), and William Battjes (Debbie). Arlene was also preceded in passing by her two younger sisters Maxine Stuart (Charles) and Donna Morrisy (Robert). Arlene is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and several nieces and nephews. Arlene’s pleasant, reserved, and kindly yet strongly principled nature gained her friends’ respect in all endeavors. She enjoyed home decorating projects with her stepdaughter Terrie, bridge with community friends both in Cedar Springs and later in Grand Rapids, and family activities such as alpine skiing, tennis, golf and sailing and camping. Her greatest loves were husbands Robert and Jack and her family. Arlene was a touchstone for her children and those who knew her well. She was always a lady. She listened without passing judgment, she advised without directing, she provided material support to her children in crisis as best she could. She was respectful to all under all circumstances. She was a person who in her marital relationships set an example her family has tried to emulate in theirs. She described herself as having a pragmatic outlook on life. As a teenager she learned quickly she would never be a comic nor the life of a party and so due to her integrity, friendly, warm and approachable nature many quickly found a friend in her and she in them. She inherited a talent for music from her mother and thus became an accomplished violinist in high school and pianist later in life. Her young children were serenaded many nights after bedtime when she would play such tunes as Deep Purple, Claire de Lune and Ebb Tide on the piano below their bedrooms. Later in life she became an Honorary member of the Grand Rapids based Camp Blodgett Babies’ Welfare Guild and was asked to model fine clothing for their Camp Blodgett fund raising style shows. At least one outfit would make it to her closet following each show. Arlene found it hard to believe she reached the age of 99 years. She was a strong woman having survived a heart attack while playing tennis and later, breast cancer. She recently said how fortunate she was to feel warm, comfortable, safe and loved in her later years. How blessed we all are to have known and loved her. She is now one of our favorite guardian angels. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday November 29, 2016 at the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Chapel where friends may meet the family for one hour prior to the service.  Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery followed by a gathering at Porter Hills Retirement Village for refreshments and fellowship. Please consider a memorial gift on Arlene’s behalf to Grand Rapids based charity, Camp Blodgett Babies’ Welfare Guild c/o Betsey Sayde, 126 Summerset Dr. NE, GR 49503. 

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