Ruth Hoedema

Although Ruth Hoedema filled her life’s journey with so many amazing experiences, there was nothing that was more near and dear to her heart than spending time with the ones she loved most. She was a devoted family woman through and through, and although she treasured her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother, she just may have argued that nothing was better than being a Great Nana to the six great-grandchildren she adored. A nurturer at heart, Ruth made a significant impact in the lives of numerous people in the community she called home through the tender care she offered new families in her work at Holland Hospital. Her faith was a cornerstone in her life, and as a longtime member of the Reformed Church she continued to give generously of her time and talents to fellow members. Ruth will never be forgotten.

It was great to be an American in the 1920s. Life was bustling with more affordable cars, motion pictures in both color and sound, and Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb drawing record crowds at baseball stadiums across the nation. Prosperity was commonplace, at least until the crash of the stock market in October of 1929 sent our nation and much of the world spiraling down into the depths of the Great Depression. It was as the calendar welcomed in the year 1922 that Arie and Ella (Kass) Woltman were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the frigid winter air held the city of Holland, Michigan, firmly in its grip. The big day finally arrived on January 27th when the baby girl they named Ruth drew her first breath.

In many ways Ruth was just a typical young girl of the twenties and thirties. As many young Hollanders, she Dutch danced while in high school. Ruth was a student at local schools who went on to graduate from Holland High School in 1940.

New and exciting changes were in store for Ruth when she met the young man with whom she would write a love story that would span nearly 60 years. His name was Harold “Bud” Hoedema, and they met at Hart and Cooley while they were both working there. Sparks flew right from the start, and it wasn’t long before the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, the sweethearts were married on June 30, 1944, in the pastor’s house in Holland. Together they welcomed two daughters, Louise and Jean, into their hearts and home.

From the moment she became a wife and later a mother, Ruth’s focus was on loving and caring for her family. She never was one to enjoy cooking, but it worked out well since Bud loved to cook. So she took care of the clean up. Ruth did enjoy going out for breakfast, and they frequented Community Restaurant in Zeeland among many other great places. She and Bud both enjoyed camping, and heading up to the Mackinaw Bridge was one of their favorite destinations.In fact, both Ruth and Bud were spontaneous by nature and were known to tell their daughters they were going to be gone for a few days but didn’t know where they were going - only to end up at the bridge almost every time.Over the years, she and her husband did some additional traveling including the time they flew to Alaska. For years Ruth and Bud golfed on a par three course in Muskegon three times a week, and she never could understand why people took a golf cart rather than getting some exercise while walking the course.

With a servant’s heart that loved to care for others, Ruth’s tender touch also spread to others in her community. She spent more than 20 years working as a nurse’s aid and ward clerk at Holland Hospital. The majority of her time was spent working in obstetrics and in the nursery. Although she loved working with babies, she did not care for working with computers as her job necessitated later on. As the years went by, it was not uncommon for Ruth’s daughters to have someone tell them their their mom took care of them while they were in the hospital having a baby. As a member of Bethel Reformed Church, Ruth taught Sunday school to the youngest children, and she also sang in the choir. When she became a member of Trinity Reformed Church, Ruth helped with funeral lunches, folded bulletins, and helped serve lunch for Camp Rock during the summers. Although personal, her faith was always very important to her, and she loved all the old hymns.

Throughout her life Ruth was one to keep busy pursuing the interests she enjoyed. In the evenings she watched Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and everyone who knew her knew that when then Detroit Tigers were playing that watching the game took precedence over everything else. Ruth loved knitting, and she often knit hats for babies. She also donated some of her things to Community Action House. At times her family and friends were the recipients of her slippers and dishcloths, and they were always a huge hit. Ruth always remembered the 1940s fondly. It was such an exciting time with the end of WWII in 1945, which meant that her brother, her brother-in-law, and the rest of soldiers were coming home.

Later in life Ruth was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved husband on September 12, 2002. Although it was difficult for her to move on without him, she continued to find joy in her family while drawing strength from her faith.Ruth treasured her growing family and becoming a great-grandmother, and was especially excited to learn one of her granddaughters was having twins.

With unending love for others, Ruth Hoedema was a blessing to everyone she met. She was known for being forthright, compassionate, and genuine in her interest in the lives of all who were near. Ruth was never one to worry about the things of this world, rather, her sights were always set on being the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. Ruth could be a bit stubborn at times, yet it was usually when it came to things she felt passionately about. With a great sense of humor coupled with her contagious zest for life, she drew others near with ease. Ruth will never be forgotten.

Ruth Hoedema, of Holland, died on Monday, May 25, 2015, at the Inn at Freedom Village. Ruth’s family includes her daughters, Louise Koster of Holland and Jean (Lawrence) Coppens of Wyoming; 4 grandchildren, Erin (Eric) Ortlund, Jeremy Koster, Allison (Nicholas) LaCroix, and Matthew (Ranise) Coppens; 6 great-grandchildren, Kathryn Ortlund, William Ortlund, Mira Koster, Nina Koster, Ella LaCroix, and Sofie LaCroix; nephews and nieces. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Harold “Bud” Hoedema on September 12, 2002. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2015, at the Trinity Reformed Church, 712 Apple Avenue, with the Revs Chris DeGraaf and Debbra Yurk officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2015, at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Reformed Church Children’s Ministry.