Rensena "Rennie" Tuinstra

Born February 22, 1934 in Worth, Illinois to Gerrit and Gertrude Hamstra, Rensena Gertrude grew up in Worth, Roseland and Englewood. On June 6, 1946 she was united in marriage to Bert Tuinstra. They raised six children in Martin, Michigan. She passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord on November 1, 2013.

Rennie enjoyed a busy life as a mother and wife as a homemaker. She not only did the bookkeeping for the family’s business Bert Tuinstra’s Auto Salvage and Scrap Yard, but she was an active member of Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery and crocheting. She was a great cook and enjoyed baking. Always gardening, she would can the vegetables for winter feasting. She enjoyed music and bible study as well reading and was part of many book clubs.

A grandmother to 22 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren, she was known for her crafting abilities and she would make gifts for them. They have many fond memories of getting handmade pajamas and slippers in their Christmas packages.

Rensena is survived by the blessings of her children Henry (Nancy) Tuinstra, Gerrit (Cheryl) Tuinstra, John Tuinstra, James (Donna) Tuinstra, and Miriam (Ron) VanVolkinburg, her daughter-in-law Kathy Tuinstra, 22 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, her sister Geraldine Zandstra, her sisters-in-law Bertha Lynema, Clara Hamstra, and Hester Tuinstra, her brother-in-law Jack Koopman as well as many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Bert in January 2000, her son Mark in September of 2013, her grandson Jason, her great-granddaughter Evelyn, her brother Harold Hamstra and sister Janet Koopman.