Hendrika (Hans) W. Moederzoon Vankuilenburg

On Saturday, August 15, 2020, Hans VanKuilenburg age 90, of Hastings, Michigan passed away after a brief illness.

Hans was the loving and proud mother to 4 children; Roy VanKuilenburg (Dawne) of Hastings, Manon Bennett (Rick Onisko) of Novi, Hans VanKuilenburg (Diane) of Middleville and Nicole Hamner (Bob Green) Kyle, Texas.

Hans was preceded in death by her father and mother Willem and Hendrika Moederzoon, the father of her children, John VanKuilenburg and her sister Wilhelmina Moederzoon (Judy Finazzi) and her brother Frederick Moederzoon (Fia Moederzoon). She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her younger brother John Moederzoon (Marge), sister-in-law Fia Moederzoon and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Hans has 9 grandchildren; Ben and Westley VanKuilenburg, Ryan and Brett VanKuilenburg, Saskia Hamner and step grandchildren Michael and Traci Green, Madison Bennett and Alexa Onisko and 4 great grandchildren.

Hans was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States with her family in December of 1959. She spent her early years in the U.S. as a housewife and after learning to drive at the age of 36, went to work as a buyer for Muir Drugs. After some time in the business world, Hans began to work in the medical field as an office assistant and later as a patient advocate and advisor. Her compassion for people was never ending and all of her patients loved her care, concern and assistance during their time of need.

Hans pursued many interests during her life from entertaining, cooking, photography, and sewing to name just a few. Eventually she turned her love of photography into a business and sold many of her works at art fairs and through direct sales. She lived through the horrors of the 2nd World War as a teenager and these memories remained very vivid throughout her lifetime. She was a proponent for peace and in her mission to spread the word of peace and tolerance, she wrote and published her book Silent Hero's, a memoir about the war and the part her family, especially her father, played in the Dutch underground resistance. Hans was a favored speaker at many schools and clubs, providing a personal rendition of her experience and always promoting peace to all.

Hans will be remembered for her kindness, concern for others, charitableness, artistic abilities, sunny disposition and optimistic outlook on life, but by her children mostly for her unfailing nurturing, exposure to the arts and love that was always there for each child when needed. She was the heart of the family and always a great friend and will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

A visitation of 10 at a time will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from Noon to 1:00 PM at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S Broadway St, Hastings, MI  49058 with a graveside service to follow at 1:30 at Riverside Cemetery, 1003 W State Rd, Hastings, MI  49058.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Thornapple Arts Council, P.O. Box 36, Hastings, MI 49058.  Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.