Jean Marie Vande Hoef was born August 10, 1931 at the home of her parents, Theo and Grace (Engelsman) Kats, on a farm near Prairie View, Kansas. As the oldest child of 4, her father taught her farming and the value of hard work. Her mother taught her to sew, cook, and play the piano. All skills she would use throughout the rest of her life. The whole family were active members in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church. She attended a one-room school and then Long Island High School, graduating in 1948. She often stayed with aunts and uncles to help with kids, cooking for harvest, and doing chores. She worked in a store in Norton after graduation.
On February 15, 1950, she married Paul VandeHoef at her parents’ home. She moved with Paul to Iowa, near Boyden, and started married life farming on the family farm. In 1954 they moved into Boyden and bought the local grocery store. They renamed it Paul’s Gateway Store. Their first three children (Gloria, Darrell, and Paula) were born in Iowa during these years. In 1959 Paul felt the calling to enter the ministry so they sold the store and moved to Holland Michigan. While Paul attended Hope College and Western Seminary, Jean worked for Ottawa Savings & Loan and was secretary for the Hope College Music Department to support the family.
In 1965 the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Paul became minister of Aberdeen Reformed Church. Jean was an active minister’s wife. Her skills of cooking, baking and playing the piano played a large part in her role as pastors’ wife. In May of 1966 their 4th child, Jeffery, was born.
In 1969 they moved to Holland, Michigan where Paul became the minister of Rose Park Reformed Church. Jean began working part time at Meijer as a cashier and in customer service. She used her sewing, cooking and piano skills to support many church events and gatherings. She loved to host her kids’ college friends for Sunday dinners. She cooked and sometimes sewed, providing a home away from home for many students.
In 1978 they moved to Hudsonville so Paul could become the minister of Heritage Reformed Church. After 5 years Paul left the church, and they moved to Grandville. They divorced in 1993. Jean continued to work at Meijer and later was secretary for Bethany Christian Services and Wedgewood Christian Services, retiring in 1999.
In 2006 Jean met Samuel Allen of Sun City, Arizona. They visited each other several times and after 2 years of courtship they had a marriage commitment service on March 29, 2008, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church Chapel in Sun City Arizona. They thoroughly enjoyed the few years they had together before Samuel passed away in 2010.
In 2016 Jean moved into Warm Friend Independent Living where she renewed acquaintances and developed many friendships. The skills her mother taught her played a big role in her retirement. She loved playing piano for church services and sing-alongs. She became the “banana bread woman” of Warm Friend by weekly baking and giving away banana bread to other residents and visitors.
Throughout her entire life Jean continued practicing the skills her mother her taught her. Jean was co-owner/operator of DiJean Sewing. She and Diane made many unique things such as custom covers for AV equipment and mascot costumes. In retirement their special joy was making bags for walkers and wheelchairs, hundreds of fleece blankets for kids at Wedgwood and bone-shaped pillows for patients at Faith Hospice. In her retirement she also worked as a volunteer in a mission store and in the Warm Friend store. She did volunteer bookkeeping and secretarial work for her church. Jean was an active member of various churches throughout her life, the last being Central Avenue Church in Holland, Michigan.
A very special use of her gifts involved cooking and baking for friends and family. The day after Thanksgiving became a special day for her as she did holiday baking. Boxes of cookies, muffins and banket that were sent all over the country to her kids and grandkids in numbers too great to count. She provided cherished memories for family and friends.
Jean passed way Friday, April 4, 2025 at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods in Byron Center, Michigan where she had been a patient since November 29, 2024.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, brothers Derek Kats and Sherlyn Kats, sister-in-law Shirly Kats, brother-in-law Jim Schlatter, and daughter Gloria Timmer. She is survived by children Darrell (Conni Schaftenaar) Vande Hoef, Paula (Doug) Drumm, and Jeff (Pam) Vande Hoef; son-in-law John Timmer; grandchildren Keely (Mark) Selko, Tracy (Winter) Rumans, Jennifer Timmer, Kevin (Brianne) Drumm, and Ali (Chris Thoren) Drumm; step-grandchildren Taylor (Andrew) Krebill, Travis (Kaityn) Shamery, Spencer (Anna) Shamery; great-grandchildren Joe Selko, Owen and Quincy Rumans, and Kaylee, Anderson, and Adleigh Drumm; step-greatgrandchildren Lucie Shamery and Maci Krebill; sister Marianne Schlatter, sister-in-law Irene Kats and several nephews and nieces.
A graveside service will take place on Monday, April 14 at 2:00pm at Pilgrim Home Cemetery, 370 E 16th Street, Holland. In addition to the graveside service, a celebration of life will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to one of the organizations Jean had supported for many years: Words of Hope, Samaritan’s Purse, or Faith Hospice.
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