Norma Girod

In everything she did, Norma Girod lived to serve her Lord and love her family. Her life is an inspiration to many.

It was during the vibrant days of the Roaring Twenties that Leon August and Eva (Ryskamp) Heyer were blessed with the baby girl they named Norma Jean on August 24, 1923. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she was the oldest of four children and was raised in the family home on Dolby SE alongside her siblings, Donald, Roger, and Robert. Norma’s father was an accountant while her mother was a homemaker. She attended local schools including Ottawa Hills High School where she was editor of the school newspaper. Norma learned to play the piano as a young girl and played throughout the rest of her life. The Heyer family attended Immanuel Reformed Church. After graduating from high school in 1941, Norma worked as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell Telephone.

Life was forever changed for Norma when she met Gordon Henry Girod who also attended Immanuel Reformed. They were married on September 3, 1943, at their church. Because Gordon was attending Western Theological Seminary at that time, they settled into an apartment in Holland. After ordination Gordon accepted a call to Beverly Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan, and for the four years that followed they lived in the parsonage there .Together Norma and Gordon welcomed four children, Stephen, Lynne, Gerald, and Carol. He later took a ministerial position at Hope Reformed Church in Chicago, Illinois where the family lived for another four years.

Gordon’s work later took them to Grand Rapids serving at Seventh Reformed Church where they ministered together with their childrend for 21 years. As a family they enjoyed spending time at the family cottage on Lake Macatawa.

Throughout her life Norma served within various churches in support of her husband’s work. She was president of the women’s guild and also was active in all their groups and organizations. After Gordon retired, they joined Fourth Reformed Church where they were both active. During that time they vacationed in Holland, at their cottage, and in Florida. They also spent time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Later in life Norma was deeply saddened with Gordon’s death, but she kept busy spending time with her friends, often traveling together. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease four years ago, she slowed down some but continued living in her home with loving caregivers.

Norma Girod will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Norma Jean Girod, aged 90, of Grand Rapids, went to be with her Lord on Friday, April 4, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Gordon Girod; her brothers, Donald and Robert Heyer. She is survived by her children, Stephen Girod (David Bouma), Lynne (Dr. Warner III) DeLeeuw, Gerald (Jane) Girod, Carol (David) Van Andel; her grandchildren, Dr. Catherine (Eric) DeLeeuw-Pobocik, Dr. Warner "Jake" DeLeeuw IV, Christine (Mark) Sloothaak, Stephanie (Rev. Mark) Hofman, Ann (Jeff) Hoekstra, Jesse Girod, Alex Girod, Kate Girod, Jesse Van Andel. Aaron Van Andel, Kyle VanAndel, and Christian Van Andel; her four great grandchildren, Henry and Greta Hoekstra and Asher and August Hofman; her brother, Roger (Joyce) Heyer; her sisters-in-law, Elaine Heyer, Dawn Heyer and Maxine Bruinsma; many nieces, nephews and friends. Norma was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed. She was a longtime member of Seventh Reformed Church where the service to celebrate her life will be held on April 25 at 11:00 A.M. Burial to be at Restlawn Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet her family at Seventh Reformed Church, 950 Leonard St. NW from 9:30AM to 11:00AM on the day of the funeral. Contributions in her memory may be made to Van Andel Institute for Cancer Research. To read more about Norma’s life, to sign her guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com