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Lois Dreyer

August 7, 1926 - March 19, 2015
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Monday, March 23, 2015
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Trinity Reformed Church
1224 Davis St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Service

Monday, March 23, 2015
1:00 PM EDT
Trinity Reformed Church
1224 Davis NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Trinity Reformed Church
1224 Davis NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Life Story / Obituary


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Throughout her rich and rewarding life, Lois Dreyer lived with purpose and unwavering convictions while holding her loved ones near. She treasured her faith and was a prayer warrior who regularly covered her loved ones in heartfelt prayer. Lois was deeply devoted to the family she loved, and although she savored being a wife and mother she just may have argued that being a grandmother was her richest reward. Dedicated, generous, and caring, she touched the lives of all who were within her reach in such a special way. Always curious to learn new things, Lois had a zest for life that was contagious. She will be forever missed while her timeless legacy is proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

With the end of WWI in 1918, America was recognized as a world leader and poised for greatness. With the eyes of the world focused on our shores for what was to come, we did not disappoint as we led the way into the Roaring Twenties. Radios, motion pictures in both color and sound as well as conveniences like the washing machine and refrigerator were among the many advancements that colored the cultural fabric of our nation. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Leonard and Cora (Stadt) Goudzwaard as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the heat of the summer held the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, firmly in its grip in 1926. The big day finally arrived on August 7th when the baby girl they named Lois Ann drew her first breath. She was the third of five children in her family, and she was raised in the family home on the West Side alongside her older siblings, Frances and Marian, and her younger brothers, Charles and Gerald. Lois and her family were members of Trinity Reformed Church, which is where she came to embrace the Christian faith that was a cornerstone in her life.

In many ways Lois was a young girl of her generation. Her father worked for the railroad while her mother was a busy homemaker. Lois attended West Leonard Elementary, Harrison Park Jr. High, and went on to Union High School. She enjoyed things like hanging out with her girlfriends, going to the movies, and heading to the beach in the summer. When she was a bit older, Lois worked for a neighbor, helping her with her children, and her first “real” job was at Woolworth’s downtown. She went on to graduate from high school in 1944.

Not to be forgotten during this time was Lois’ introduction to the young man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Herbert P. Dreyer, and they met on the beach in Grand Haven. Smitten with one another, they began dating. Less than one year later, Lois and Herbie were married in a small family wedding on October 3, 1945, when she was 19 and he was 23. They later had a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, New York.

For awhile the couple lived in several apartments on the Southeast side of Grand Rapids before eventually buying their first home on Merrifield SE. In 1954, they moved to a house on Parkhurst where Lois called home for the rest of her life. This is where they raised their family that had grown to include their daughter, Linda, in 1949 and their son, Steven, in 1954. Herb worked at Doehler-Jarvis until retirement, and while her children were younger Lois focused her time and attention at home. There were fun-filled family vacations to California or Big Star Lake where her twin sister’s families went. There, they enjoyed two weeks spent swimming, water skiing, and boating.

Throughout her life Lois was always busy. When her children were older, she took a job as a bookkeeper at Grand Rapids Gypsum until they closed in the seventies. From there Lois worked at Arbor Model & Pattern and later as secretary at St. Johns Church until she retired. She was a longtime member at Trinity Reformed Church where she was involved in numerous activities including the women’s guild and the Keenagers, the seniors group with Herbie. Lois was an amazing seamstress who made clothes for both herself and her daughter as well as numerous doll outfits for Linda’s doll. She knitted, too, making many gifts, and as someone who enjoyed learning new things she took ceramics classes and cross-stitched as well. Lois did water aerobics at the Grandville YMCA for years where she was still making new friends as recently as this past January. During their younger years she and Herbie loved to dance and took classes to become better dancers, too. All who knew Lois would agree that her baking skills were wonderful, and she loved baking for her family and friends from the YMCA.

Later in life Lois continued living fully in the moments she was given. She was thrilled to become a grandmother and frequently babysat her grandchildren when they were younger. Lois was very close to each one of her five grandchildren and never missed any of their birthdays or special days. Known as Grandma Yo Yo, she enjoyed keeping in touch with them through Skype once she got an iPad. Lois liked reading mystery novels, Patricia Cornwell books, and devotional books as well. She loved watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and the Tigers play in addition to golf tournaments with Herbie. During their retirement years, she and her husband spent a month every year in Naples, Florida, until his dementia grew worse. Lois cared for him in their home for several years as he was admitted to Stonebridge Manor just four weeks ago. Lois joined him there in January to recover after she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, March 19th.

All who knew Lois Dreyer would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was dedicated to her loved ones and lived to bless others in ways both great and small. Lois was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life was deeply rooted in the faith she cherished. She will never be forgotten.

Lois Ann Dreyer, aged 88, of Grand Rapids passed away unexpectedly on March 19, 2015, at Stonebridge Manor. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Herbert “Herbie” Dreyer. Lois was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and a friend to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. She also leaves her children, Linda and Edward Strom, Steven and Pam Dreyer; her grandchildren, Eric (Nadia) Strom, Sarah Strom, Marc Dreyer (fiancée, Rebecca), Missi (Pat) LaFreniere, Michael (Amber) Dreyer; great grandchildren, Haley, Zachary, Derrick, Victoria, Nicholas, Madison and Skylar; her sister, Marian Manni; her sister-in-law, Betty Goudzwaard; her brother-in-law, Adrian Dreyer; many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her sister, Frances (Herbert) Voshol, her brothers, Charles Goudzwaard, Gerald Goudzwaard and her brother-in-law, Leon Manni, as well as other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. She was lifetime member of Trinity Reformed Church where she was very active. She was also a longtime member of the Grandville YMCA. Cremation has taken place. A service to celebrate Lois’s life will be held on Monday, March 23 at 1:00 PM at Trinity Reformed Church, 1224 Davis NW. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the church on Monday from 11:00 am until the service begins at 1:00. Contributions may be made to Trinity Reformed Church. To read more about Lois’s life, to leave your own memory of her and to sign her guest book, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com

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