NORTHPORT - Helen Kuipers, 105, of Northport, MI., died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at Leelanau Memorial Health Center.
Helen was the much loved mother of Herman J. and Shirley D. (Schroeder) Kuipers of Northport, with whom she made her home since moving to Northport in 1981, and Gerald J. and Dr. Judith (McGeachy) Kuipers of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Helen was born Aug. 23, 1899, in Nykerk, Netherlands; she was the daughter of Harmen and Reintje (Melgert) Motshagen. On May 10, 1920, she married John Kuipers in Nykerk.
She is also survived by a granddaughter, Lori L. Kuipers of Clovis, Calif.; two grandsons, Mark W. (Dawn) (Jozwiake) Kuipers of Bellevue, Wash., and Christopher J. (Tracey) Kuipers of Sanford, N.C.; three great-granddaughters, Kimberly Wall, Mackenzie Kuipers and Mariaka Kuipers-Sharsher; two great-grandsons, Jonathan Kuipers and Quinn Kuipers-Sharsher; and nieces and nephews in Canada and the Netherlands.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Janet, on Ellis Island; a great-grandson, John Edward Kuipers; a brother, Cornealus; three sisters, Jannetije, Johanna and Martije; and a very good friend, Walter Chester.
When she came from the Netherlands in 1923, Helen first settled in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. The family then moved to the Detroit area in 1928.
In 1936, she and John, along with Walter Chester, started the Centerline Stamping Company in Centerline. They supplied different items to the war effort and sold the business in 1950.
They moved to Midland and started the Maple Grove Mobile Home Village. It was run by the family until it was sold in 1981. Helen then moved to Northport with Herman and Shirley.
While in Northport, Helen enjoyed driving her car to church, going out to eat (especially to her favorite restaurant in Greilickville to see friends), people and taking long drives.
At home she kept busy crocheting lap robes for the residents at the care center in Northport. She said she made them for the "old people." She enjoyed remarkable health until September 2001, when she fell at home. She will be missed.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. Additionally, visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 17, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home of Midland (877-631-2292).
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at the Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home of Midland, followed by a graveside service at Midland Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one's choice, or the Kateri-Tekakwitha Church, P.O. Box 369, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Local arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay