Sarah Unzicker, 90, of Holland, Michigan, died on October 26, 2026.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Reverend William Unzicker; their children and families: David Unzicker and Barbara Hettle, and their son Cyrus; Steven and Christina Unzicker, and their sons Dominic and Axl; and Melissa Unzicker and Mac Liu, and their daughters Nami and Kyra. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Born in Franklin, Indiana, Sarah graduated from Franklin College and the Methodist School of Nursing. She moved to Casper, Wyoming, where she worked as a nurse before attending missionary training in New Jersey in preparation for an assignment to India. It was there that she met Bill. They married and soon afterward moved to Japan, where they served as missionaries on the northern island of Hokkaido for 30 years. Through English classes, Bible studies, and social gatherings, Sarah quietly connected women from different walks of life, helping to build a community that might otherwise never have taken shape. She also served faithfully as church organist for many years and introduced countless Japanese friends and neighbors to the delights of Midwestern cakes, cookies, and pies.
Upon returning to Holland, Sarah resumed her nursing career, working at Resthaven Care Center until her retirement at age 75. She and Bill were faithful members of Third Reformed Church. Throughout her life, Sarah gave generously of her time and talents, volunteering for a wide variety of organizations, whether cooking for Community Kitchen or serving as a docent at the Holland Museum.
Sarah’s generosity extended well beyond her professional and volunteer work. She was always ready to lend a listening ear, bake a batch of muffins, or simply help wherever she was needed. She loved playing games with family and friends at Freedom Village, and whether the game was bridge or Continental, she always brought joy and laughter to the table.
Visitation will be held from 2–4 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Third Reformed Church, 111 West 13th Street, Holland. A memorial service celebrating Sarah’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026, also at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Memorial.
To livestream the service go to TRC’s website https://trcholland.org at 11:00am on Monday November 2 and click on the tab that says “join us via zoom” or go directly zoom at 11:00am by this link:
https://trcholland.zoom.us/j/84261187462?pwd=NXRHVXp5WlVXcXRkc0p0UEU4Y3Fpdz09
Comments