Lucille Busker

LIFESTORY:

Lucille Busker was a kind and compassionate woman who put her heart and soul into everything she did. She was a loving mother and wife, a creative gardener and a gracious hostess.

Lu was born March 11, 1909, the eldest child of Gerrit and Henrietta Walvoord. Gerrit was the only doctor in the small town of South Holland, Illinois. Lucille grew up in South Holland with her brother Carl and sister Joan surrounded by the animals and gardens of a small farming community. After graduating from Thorton Township High School, Lu attended Hope College where she met friends she kept for life plus her future husband, a premed student, Harold “Bud” Dykhuizen. At Hope she was the art editor of the Hope College Milestone, providing all the art work for the 1931 yearbook (the year she graduated) and she was featured in the yearbook as one of six college beauties.

After graduating, Bud went on to Rush Medical School and Lucille returned to South Holland to teach school. In the summer of 1935 Lucille became tired of waiting for Bud to propose; she informed him that she was leaving for a graduate program in Colorado where she would be open to meeting new people. Soon Bud drove out to Colorado, proposed and they were married with in the week.

The newlyweds moved back to the Chicago area where Lucille had a contract to teach that year. At this time female teachers were not allowed to teach and be married since it was thought that they had husbands to support them and men needed their jobs, so Lucille was told that she was not to be teaching that year after all. Together with her father they fought this rule and Lucille did teach one more year. The following year Lu and Bud moved into Chicago where Lucille enjoyed the big city with its art galleries and many sights and experiences.

After Bud finished his residency in Chicago the couple moved to Muskegon where he started his practice in urology and they started their family. Dan was born first, then Ann and later Jane. They built a beautiful home on Mona Lake where the children grew up and where Lucille enjoyed working in her spectaular garden, swimming and water skiing. At age 50 Lucille could be seen water skiing and swimming across Mona Lake with her children. Lucille’s children will tell you that she exemplified all things a mother should be; she was nurturing, loving, and patient. She was always confident that her children would do well and they have, each pursuing graduate degrees and successful careers. Lucille shared her generous nature with family and friends, entertaining often. Her son was once told “Your father makes their friends but your mother keeps them”.

In 1967 Bud died of cancer after being nursed by Lucille through difficult months. Lu moved to North Muskegon where she beautifully renovated a home for herself. As her children married and began families she took great pride in becoming a grandmother and traveling extensively.

In 1972 Lucille married Walter Busker and moved into his home on Circle Drive. Walter had 4 grown children, Walt Jr., William, Barbara and Beverly plus 2 grandchildren so Lu’s family grew suddenly much larger. She concentrated her efforts at this time in creating a beautiful, warm home for all of their children and friends to come to. The combined family of 7 children, their spouses and children grew close, celebrating many holidays and good times together. Holiday celebrations hosted by Walt and Lu could often include 25 to 30 people. She became a beloved grandmother to all 12 of her and Walt’s grandchildren.

Lucille loved adventure and traveled often. For her 85th Birthday she took her first hot air balloon ride, and at 88 she went white water rafting in Alaska. In 1988, after Walt died, Lucille moved to Freedom Village in Holland and became active there and in her church and Century Club. She loved to read, keep up with current events, play bridge, draw, paint, keep in touch with her large family and create exquisite greeting cards from wild flowers which she collected on walks around Freedom Village.

Lucille will be deeply missed. Her active, inquisitive mind, her sense of beauty and her nurturing, compassionate spirit will provide inspiration to all who knew her and loved her for a long time to come.

Lucille (Walvoord) Dykhuizen Busker, age 96, passed away on March 19, 2005 at The Inn at Freedom Village.

She was born and raised in South Holland, IL and attended Hope College. Lucille lived with her family in Muskegon until moving to Freedom Village. She was a member of Century Club of Holland and enjoyed many artistic activities such as painting, drawing and making cards and gifts by hand. She was a member of Third Reformed Church of Holland.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husbands, Harold “Bud” Dykhuizen, M.D. in 1967, and Walter Busker in 1988, as well as her sister Joan and brother Carl.

Lucille is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Margaret Dykhuizen, daughter and son-in-law Ann and William Brenner, and daughter and son-in-law Jane and Thomas G. Bos; as well as step-children Walter and Lee Busker, William and Barbara Busker, Wolfgang and Barbara Mieder, and Beverly and John Skinner. Also surviving are Lucille’s grandchildren Lisa Brenner and Michael Hill, Martin Brenner, Marta and Sean Shore, Edward Dykhuizen, Matthew Schroeder and Shahna Gooneratne, Joanna Schroeder and Ivan Stoilkovich, and Emily Dykhuizen; step-grandchildren Bradley Busker, Quincy and Clay Busker, Nancy Busker, Laura and David Busker, and Tom Skinner as well as great-grandchildren Johanna and Nathan Hill, and Greta Shore. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Helen Walvoord.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30pm at Dykstra Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel, 29 East 9th Street.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2:30pm at Third Reformed Church, 111 West 13th Street with Rev. Norman Kansfield and Rev. Steven Stam officiating. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church.

Memorial contributions in honor of Lucille’s life may be made to HomeCor of Holland and The Boys and Girls Club of Holland.