Esther June Lampen (Plumert), age 87, of Holland, Michigan, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2021, at Vista Springs Holland Meadows. She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Ivarsson (Bryan) of California and Lowell (Trudy) of Wisconsin. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Duffy, Meggi, George, Gunnar, and Oskar; by her two brothers, Bill (Mary) and Raymond (Linda); and by her honorary daughter, Leslie Lampen, all of whom she loved dearly. She is predeceased by Vern, her life partner of 62 years, and her parents.
Esther was born in Overisel, Michigan, on June 14, 1934, to William and Grace Plumert. She graduated from Hope College in 1956 where she studied history, played oboe in the band, and was first introduced to Vern. After graduation she taught history for many years and had a gift for reaching her students in creative and meaningful ways – Joyce, a favorite student, became family over the years. Teaching, whether it was history, Sunday school, or cooking and her famous life lessons for her grandchildren, was her passion. She had a thirst for learning and was an avid reader of the daily news and always kept her bible close by until the end.
Esther lived her life with joy and full of the Lord! One of her famous reminders to us all was “Don’t forget to say thank you” as she truly believed that all we had and all we accomplished was a gift from God. Second, only to her faith and her family was her love of animals. Esther was known as “the cat lady” and over the years fostered many stray animals including an injured robin that she nursed back to health which has been a favorite story and message passed down through the family. We are so thankful she is reunited with her loved ones and like to believe that includes the many furry friends who were blessed to call her “mom.”
We would like to thank the staff at Vista Springs for caring for her these last few months after her return to Holland and for the many family visitors who made her last days bright.
A time of visitation will be held from 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St, Zeeland, MI. A funeral service honoring Esther will be held directly after at 2:00 pm, also at the funeral home, followed by social time and refreshments. Pastor Barry Lucas will officiate, and burial will take place in Zeeland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Harbor Humane Society.
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