Gertrude ‘Jean’ (Van Dyke) Vanderbie was born on Valentine’s Day 1934 in Grand Rapids to Bert Van Dyke and Margaret (Cadeaux) VanDyke. She was raised on Rathbone Street in southwest Grand Rapids and attended Grand Rapids Christian Schools, graduating in 1951. She had four siblings with whom she stayed close all of their lives—Joanne, Joyce, Jerry, and Joel, all of whom preceded her in death.
Dropping Gertrude from her name, she was known to all simply as Jean. On Aug 21, 1951, while hitchhiking with girlfriends from Grand Rapids to the Holland State Park beach, she met Marvin Vanderbie, who picked her and her friends up on Chicago Drive in his convertible and drove them to the beach. The next day he picked her up again to join his family for Sunday morning services at 16th Street Christian Reformed Church. Jean and Marvin continued their relationship in part by mail thereafter when he joined the army and was stationed at Camp Grayling. They married on Feb 5, 1953. Marvin was stationed in Texas, where they spent the early months of their marriage. After army duty, they returned to Holland and later lived in Grand Rapids, Upstate New York, Rockford, IL, and Kalamazoo before returning to Holland in 1990 when Marvin retired.
Jean and Marvin were joined by son Brent in 1960 and daughter Becky in 1963. Jean was a homemaker, devoted parent, doting grandparent, beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews, and loyal lifelong friend to many. She loved the beach and the lakeshore, which was the site of many family gatherings. Vacations, even when the family lived out of state, were often spent at the Tip Top at The Resorter on Silver Lake with lifelong friends. Jean was an active member of Christ Memorial Church, where she sang alto in the choir for many years. She had a remarkable memory, often astonishing everyone with her recall of ninety years of dates, details, places, and people. Jean loved adventures. She traveled solo to the Honeysuckle Cottage when her son was stationed with the Air Force in the UK. Jean spent winter weeks, then months, in Siesta Key and Sarasota, Florida.
Marvin preceded her in death in 1998. She leaves behind her children Brent (Mary) and Becky (Keith), five grandchildren: Adam (Mariah), Elisabeth (Ben), David (Jamie), Jacob (Ali), and Reid, five great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Cole, Alayna, Fiona, and Cedar, and sister-in-law Donna. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, caring neighbors, and friends. She lived a rich, full, and long life.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends at a later date.
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