Completing a 102-year life of grace, elegance, joy, and love, Loraine Vanden Bosch entered Heaven’s gates on December 1, 2021, to be with her Lord and Savior.
Loraine Vanden Bosch was born October 3, 1919, to Cornelius and Gertrude Bazaan. She grew up on an 80-acre carrot and onion farm in West Olive, Michigan. As a young child, she loved helping her mother around the house. Her mother passed away, along with an infant daughter, when Loraine was 4 years old. Preceding Loraine’s birth, another infant sister passed due to illness. Loraine was blessed with three surviving sisters, Esther, Kay, and Anne, who took her under their wing during the difficult years following their mother’s death. After graduating eighth grade from Ottawa Station School, a one-room schoolhouse, Loraine joined her family to work full-time on their farm. It was on this farm, during the Great Depression, that Loraine caught the eye of her future husband, Marvin. Their lifelong, devoted marriage began on her 21st birthday and lasted 56 years until Marvin’s passing in 1996.
Loraine was artistic, creative, and talented working with her hands. She restored antique clocks and furniture. She enjoyed making beautiful bookmarks with flowers she picked and pressed. Bible verses were added to these to make them a gift from the heart. She made countless intricately decorated eggs, hundreds of which were also given as gifts. Many of these eggs — ranging in size from the smallest robin’s egg to that of an ostrich — were transformed into miniature tableaus to the wonderment, amazement, and delight of loved ones. She was also an exceptional cook. Well into her eighties, Loraine cooked and hosted Thanksgiving dinner for upwards of 30 family members.
Loraine was always interested in people, politics, sports, music, and watching her favorite TV shows, including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She was a fiercely competitive Rummikub and Liverpool player. She enjoyed traveling, blessed with events like a trip to Branson for her 90th birthday, and attendance at “G-FEST,” a Godzilla convention in Chicago, as a companion to her grandson.
Together with Marvin, she was joyfully devoted to the Lord, serving as an early member of Beechwood Church in Holland. She loved her family, and the faith of each person was very important to her. Calm, confident, and content, Loraine was a steady and supportive presence at her church, in her community, and in the lives of her many children and grandchildren. Loraine embraced and enjoyed the passage of time over the remarkable span of her life. One moment, she would marvel at the ability to commune with grandchildren on a video call; the next, she would fondly share stories of horse trafficking on what is now the corner of US-31 and Lakewood Boulevard in Holland, or the moment “the lights turned on” in West Olive.
Loraine is remembered fondly for her steadfast presence as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to an extended family of 4 children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and their spouses, and 12 great-grandchildren. She poured her energy into loving and caring for her family. Family gatherings were very important to her, and family coming from near and far to celebrate her 100th birthday was a great blessing to her.
Meeting her in Heaven are Loraine’s late husband, Marvin Vanden Bosch (1996), son Clare Vanden Bosch (2001), and son-in-law Jerry Trantham (2003). In addition to countless friends and family members whose lives she graced, Loraine is survived by three generations of descendants: her children Kathy Trantham, David Vanden Bosch (Julie), Arlene Vanden Bosch, and Sue Vanden Bosch (Paul Dixon); and her grandchildren Jon Trantham (Laura), Alyce Price (Tim), Greg VandenBosch, Cindy VandenBosch (Andrew Gustafson), Jamie Atherton (Andy), Jeannie Henry (Barry), Sarah Westra, Jenna Westra, Justin Westra, Amanda Krause (Jason), and Christopher Vanden Bosch. Her great-grandchildren include Caleb Trantham; Drew, Kelsie, Kamryn, and Luke Atherton; Lauryn and Rocco Henry; Jeffrey and Daniel Price; and Mackenzie and Conner Krause.
Loraine was blessed with good health and clear thinking to her last days, permitting her to meet with joy and delight her twelfth great-grandchild, Cora Mae, 100 years her junior, on Thanksgiving Day 2021.
A special thank you to much-loved niece, Jan Haglund, for her presence and help during Loraine’s last days. The family also expresses their gratitude to the wonderful helpers and staff at Royal Atrium Inn and Hospice of Holland.
Memorial services will be at 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Beechwood Reformed Church, 895 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland. The service will be followed by a luncheon. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10:30-11:45 AM on Thursday, December 9, also at church. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Beechwood Church or Hospice of Holland. The family is being served by Yntema Funeral Home. www.yntemafh.com
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