Dena Van Heyningen

Dena Ann Van Heyningen, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, of Holland, Michigan, died May 10 in Clare Bridge at the Inn in Freedom Village.

She is survived by Earle, her husband of 63 years; her children, Carol (Donald; dec.) Troost of Scotia, NY; Mary Schakel Van Heyningen of Holland, MI; Louis (Deborah Noe) Schakel of Holland, MI; and Nancy Bryant of Indianapolis, IN. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Dena Condra, Stephanie Molitor, Nathan Bryant, Ben Schakel, Deborah Troost, Matt Troost, Maggie Hirt, 11 great grand children, her sister in law Mary Jane Kleyn and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents John and Anna DeWitte Kleyn and siblings Hattie Fischer, Sebastian Kleyn, Elizabeth Plummer, Hazel Kleyn and Harry Kleyn.

Dena was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 12, 1926. She was graduated from Warren Central High School. She then devoted her life to being a full-time wife, mother and volunteer. She married Louis Schakel (deceased March 4, 1950) in June, 1945. She married Earle Van Heyningen on December 26, 1951.

Dena was very active in her home church, Christian Park Reformed where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and led the Women’s Guild and Hannah Circle. She was also active at Wheeler Mission, managed the Metro Center, a second-hand clothing store for the Indianapolis Council of Churches. She helped initiate an organization called Public Action in Correctional Effort (PACE) which established a book distribution system for the the Marion County jail library.

Dena and Earle traveled extensively and she was an avid reader. She cherished annual family reunions and was an enthusiastic participant of bird watching and conservation.

The family would like to thank the staff at Clare Bridge for the wonderful care they gave Dena.

Visitation will take place Saturday, May 16 at 1 pm at Third Reformed Church; 111 West 13th Street, Holland, MI. A funeral service will follow at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in memory of Dena to Third Reformed Church.