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Antje (Ann) Nieboer

October 10, 2020
Kalamazoo, MI

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Antje (Ann) Apotheker Nieboer went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 10, 2020 after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. Ann was born in Delft, The Netherlands, on August 4, 1936, to Kobe and Elizabeth Apotheker. Soon afterward, they moved to the small village of Onstwedde in the province of Groningen. Ann grew up with her siblings under German occupation and spoke often of the joy she experienced when her town was liberated in May 1945. In 1953, she and her family emigrated to America, settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan and attended the First Christian Reformed Church. There she met Nicolas Nieboer and they were married in 1956. Together they were blessed with four children: James, Betty, Ronald, and Steven. Once all of their children were in school full time, Ann began her college education and graduated with a history major from Western Michigan University eventually earning a masters degree in teaching. She taught at Lincoln Elementary School in Kalamazoo for 23 years. She loved taking her students on field trips showing them the world beyond books. She distinguished herself as a teacher by visiting her students and their parents in their homes at the beginning of each academic year. Ann was a loving mom and grandma and enjoyed spending time with her family. She and Nick especially loved to travel and took their four children on summer camping trips across the U.S. with Ann mixing in a history lesson whenever she had the opportunity! Summers with the grandchildren brought many joyous times of seeing them all together enjoying the pool. Ann and Nick shared numerous adventures together across the world and in later years enjoyed spending winters in Florida. Ann had a vibrant faith that was deeply rooted in God's Word and lived with joy in the assurance of her salvation. She knew the Bible, cherished a great sermon and prayed daily for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others. She and Nick have always been active members of the Christian Reformed church, where Ann played organ, taught Sunday School, and enjoyed Ladies Bible Study and Book Club. They are currently members of the Heritage Christian Reformed Church. Ann loved classical music, singing the Psalms and always enjoyed a good choir concert or organ recital, especially if the music involved J.S. Bach. Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 64 years Nicolas Nieboer; her children James (Laura) Nieboer, Betty (Thomas) Bultman, Ronald Nieboer, and Steven (Joy) Nieboer; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Jesse Nieboer, Leah Nieboer, Micah (Leah) Nieboer, Sam (Rachael) Bultman and Christopher, David (Katie) Bultman and Lilly, Annie Bultman, Josie (Chad) Niewoonder, Nicolas Nieboer, and Grace Nieboer. Also surviving are her ten Apotheker siblings; Paula (Al) Nagel, Florence (Ron) Oosting, John (Beth) Apotheker, Gert Vanden Berg, Frank (Kaye) Apotheker, Al (Grace) Apotheker, Rea Shreuder, Jane (John) Schreuder, Hank (Carole) Apotheker and Arlene (John) Kiel, five Nieboer in-laws; Donna Johncock, Phil (Barb) Nieboer, Gert Nieboer, Mary (Bill) Greenfield, Howard (Debra) Nieboer and many nieces and nephews. Ann was preceded in death by her parents Kobe and Elizabeth, parents-in-law Jacob and Grace Nieboer, in-laws Jackie Nieboer, Paul Schreuder, Henry Vanden Berg, Harold and Fran Nieboer, Calvin and Marguerite Miersma, Walter and Esther Ring, Norman Johncock and Willard Nieboer. A private family memorial service will be held at Heritage Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Simon Tuin officiating. A private committal service will be held at Mt Ever-Rest Memorial Park - South. Memorials may be given to Wycliffe Bible Translators, Campus Crusade for Christ, or Heritage Christian Reformed Church.