Jacklyn "Jacki" Tressa Main

Jacklynn (Jacki) Tressa Main, age 60, passed away April 3, 2019, at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital.  She was born December 12, 1958, to Richard and Barbara (Norton) Main.

Jacki attended Hastings Area Schools, graduating from Hastings High School in 1977.  She often said that due to riding the bus to school and the often-changing school neighborhood lines, that she had attended every elementary school in the district.  When she got to the middle school melting pot, she already knew many of the students in her grade from these moves, which gave her an advantage over others who knew only their friends from one elementary.

Jacki was a quiet soul, preferring the company of a few close friends rather than a large crowd of people.  She was a talented and creative quilter and crafter.  She began sewing at a young age in the 4-H program where her mother was a leader.  The skills she learned there blossomed into the ability to craft and sew beautiful handmade quilts for her brothers, nieces and nephews, as well as decorating her own life with them.  Jacki also had a love of flowers and gardening, which led to her completing a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1992, while working full time, from Grand Valley State University.

Jacki worked for many years in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the then, Butterworth Hospital, in Grand Rapids, as an administrative assistant. She was in charge of coordinating the paperwork of incoming and discharged babies from the unit, as well as working with the medical staff in this capacity.  From there she expanded her horizons and moved to Denver, CO, to work for The Conservancy, part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, using her knowledge of biology and working to improve the ecology of the state.  When funding for the program was drastically cut, Jacki then began to work with students helping them with loans and grants to pay for college.  Eventually, however, she missed being close to family and moved back to Hastings, interviewing for her current job as a credentialing specialist, doing the first Skyped interview on her iPad, that her supervisor had ever done, for Spectrum Health-Pennock.

When she decided to come back to Hastings, her criteria for a place to live was that it had to have a yard she could fill with plants and flowers!  This she did, freely sharing her knowledge of biology and plants to anyone who asked.  At the same time, Jacki used her crafting skills and abilities to make creative decorations for the house and the garden, for herself and others. Her gardens and yard were a source of great pride.

Jacki was preceded in death by her father, Richard J. Main.  She is survived by her mother, Barbara M. Main, her brothers, Bob (Ellyn) Main of Hastings, and Ron Main of Spokane, WA. She is also survived by nieces, Ashley Main of Issaquah, WA, Caitlin Main of Portland, and Sarah Main of Grand Rapids, nephews Cody (Katie) White of Lisle, IL, and Kyle (Franki) White and great-niece, Kelby White, of Comstock Park.

Funeral services for Jacki will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Hastings Free Methodist Church.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements were made by Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings.  To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.