Margaret “Jean” Hampson was born on June 18, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan; and she joined her much-loved sister Joan, mother Marge, and father Chuck VandeKerck. As the years went on, she and her family ended up living in Birmingham, Michigan where she met her future husband, Bob Hampson. She graduated from Birmingham High School in 1957 and married Bob on July 23, 1960.
After they married, they moved to Holland, Michigan to begin their new life together. “Miss Jean”, as she was affectionately referred to by her students, was blessed to briefly share her kindheartedness when she taught kindergarten at Lakeview Elementary School. However, Jean and Bob decided it was time to expand their family and welcomed their children, Bonnie Jean and Robert Charles. Years later, they opened Stonegate Antiques & Gifts. It was there that Jean discovered how much she enjoyed working with the public, and Bob also discovered his talent for woodworking.
When they retired from Stonegate, they moved to Douglas, Michigan where they built a beautiful home, and many wonderful relationships with friends. While retired, Jean continued antiquing in a booth at the Saugatuck Antique Pavilion. Forever keeping a spirit of generosity, she wanted to fulfill her available free time by helping others. In the year 2000, she began volunteering for Christian Neighbors, and also became a member of the Saugatuck Women’s Club. She remained active in those organizations up until her final weeks.
Jean began losing her hearing in her 20s. She used hearing aids but was also highly skilled at lip reading. Despite any of the struggles she endured to hear, she always conveyed the feeling that you were being listened to. She may not have known you were out of tune, but she would never stand up and walk out on you. She firmly believed that we all get by with a little help from our friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie (Dan) VanderVeen; son, Robert and husband Andrew; granddaughter, Lindsey (Jeremy) Nelson; grandson, Kyle O’Connor; great-grandchildren, Layne, Ryder, Sawyer, and Paige; step-grandchildren, Jaime VanderVeen, Carrie VanderVeen, Dan VanderVeen, Steve (Sara) VanderVeen; step-great-grandchildren Nate, Kayla, Natalie, Landon, Chloe; sister-in-law, Peggy Keegin; brother-in-law, William Barber, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 1, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Holland, Michigan. A funeral mass will follow at 12:00 PM. Jean has been cremated and will be interred with Bob at Grace Episcopal Church in Holland at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes any contributions to be bestowed upon Christian Neighbors of Douglas, Michigan, or Harbor Humane Society in Ottawa County.
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