Carleen Lemmen

TRAVERSE CITY — Carleen S. Lemmen, 87, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 21, 2011, at French Manor. She was born on Feb. 24, 1924, in Holland, to Cornelius and Lois (Noggle) Stroop.Carleen graduated from Holland High School in 1941. She married Wayne O. Lemmen on May 22, 1944, while he was in Western Theological Seminary. Together they served six Reformed churches, including Michigan churches at Glen Lake Community, Atwood (now Belltower), and Home Acres in Grand Rapids. In 1968 Carleen received an L.P.N. degree from Pine Rest School of Nursing, graduating as valedictorian. She invested most of her nursing career caring for geriatric patients. During her early retirement years she and Wayne enjoyed winter traveling. Carleen donated many handmade items for various missions. Her life as pastor's wife, mother, nurse and friend exemplified service to others.Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Wayne; four children, David I. (Carol) Lemmen, Lois DeHart, Rhoda (Dan) Cronin, of Traverse City, and Thomas (Debra) Lemmen, of Melbourne, Fla.; in-laws, Irving (the late Norma) Lemmen, Shirley (the late Howard) Kammeraad and Douglas Lemmen; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents; two stepmothers, Gladys and Johanna; two stepbrothers, Randall Stroop (adopted) and Jack Tietsema; and two sisters, Helen (Gordon) Benjamin and Martha "Peg" (Earl) Butler.Visitation will be Friday, March 25, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be officiated by the Rev. Scott Bills on Saturday, March 26, at 1 p.m., with visitation beginning at noon, at Faith Reformed Church, 1139 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Burial will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens. The family wishes to express special thanks to the caring staff at French Manor Senior Living, where Carleen resided for the past year.Memorial gifts may be directed to Faith Reformed Church, Pregnancy Care Center or a charity of choice. Please sign Carleen's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.