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Margaret Oudsema-Tanner

June 22, 2018
Kalamazoo, MI

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Oudsema-Tanner, Margaret 11/5/1921 - 6/22/2018 Kalamazoo, MI Age 96, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on June 22. Margaret was born November 5, 1921 in Kalamazoo the daughter of C. L. & Ruth Mahoney. She was one of seven children; Madeline, Dick, Margaret, James, Jack, Patricia and Ruth. She attended St. Augustine High School in Kalamazoo and matriculated from Western Michigan University in 1944. During WW II she married her college sweetheart, an air force bombardier, Robert N. Oudsema in Albuquerque, NM. After the War, the happy couple moved back to Kalamazoo where they built their dream home on Lama Road while raising seven children. There she was surrounded by many of her life-long neighborhood friends, many of whom are buried in close proximity at Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. After Robert's death in 1996, Margaret was blessed with marrying Richard W. (Dick) Tanner in 1999. They had 12 happy years together until Dick's death in 2011. Margaret worked most of her adult life beginning at Fairfax Mechanical Construction Co. and later partnering with Marian Greene at Greenleaf Realty. At Greenleaf she had the privilege of working for Burton H. UpJohn and Dr. Lewis Batts selling real estate in Parkview Hills. Her surviving family and special friends are: Robert Jr. & Carol Oudsema, (Shelly, Scott, Drew, Abby and Meg McMillin; Robert III, Lindsay, Kate and Tyler Oudsema; and Suzy, Chris, Daniel and Audrey Hendriksen; Jeffrey Perrapato, Jr.), Mary & Clyde Stevens (Bob, Dr. Debbie, Erica and Rebekah Stevens; Michelle, Joe, Abraham and Margaret Ziomek; Michael, Mandi, Hayley and Simon Stevens), William & Kathy Oudsema, (Jeff, Paige and Jasper Oudsema; Molly, Luke, Harley and Everett Koontz; Scott & Dr. Rebecca Oudsema), Jack Oudsema, Tom Oudsema, (Nick Oudsema and Pasha Shipp; Ben, Amber, Connor, Teagan and Isaac Oudsema; and Peter Oudsema), Carol Oudsema and Vince Mandarino (Drew and Katie Miller); David Oudsema, Mary Oudsema, Deena Karson and Scott Miller. Dick's children are Richard (Jan); Kathy (Jerry) Fuss; and John (Karen) Tanner. Margaret was blessed with wonderful caretakers including Brooke and Elizabeth (Hospice), Evie, Kathy, Karen, Alberta, Louise and loving neighbors and friends. The family will have a private burial service Saturday morning, June 30. Following the burial they would love to meet relatives and friends at Langeland Family Funeral Home, 3926 S 9th St. from 1:00-4:00 pm. Those who wish to make a donation may consider: Kalamazoo Community Foundation (earmarked for the USTA Boys 16-18 Nationals Tournament) 402 E Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 N. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 100, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.