Obituary of Barbara Ann Hoekstra

Barbara A. Hoekstra, age 79, of Norton Shores, MI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at Poppen Residence in Muskegon, MI, surrounded by her loving family.

Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home.  Rev. Judy Ganz will officiate.  Burial will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery.  Visitation for family and friends will take place on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and again on Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.

Barbara was born March 31, 1939 in Wisconsin Rapids to Arthur and Iva (Reiman) Sandman. Barbara attended Lowell School and graduated from Lincoln High, and later became a graduate of Cosmetology School. Married to Theodore Hoekstra May 29, 1959 in the Moravian Church.  Barb loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, the beach, and gardening. Barbara also enjoyed painting art, baking, knitting, crocheting, and sewing, for all her kids, grandbabies, and cancer patients. Barb cut hair and worked at Chris Craft for 8 years making boats. Barbara retired as an inspector at Almond Enterprises.

God’s blessings showed through Mariena Bengtson and her family. Mariena was Barbara’s closest and dearest friend who was more than a friend in Barbara’s time of need, until her death.

Barbara is survived by her children: John Charles (Tammy) Hoekstra, Brian Keith (Joy) Hoekstra, Nancy Irene Mae (John) Hoekstra-Sabin; her grandchildren: Christin Joy (Preston) Mader, Amanda (Joshua) Rosenquist, Ryan Hoekstra, Travis (Maggie) Cornell, Dylan Hoekstra, Riley Hannah Hoekstra, Andrew Hoekstra, Matthew Hoekstra, Rachel Hoekstra, and Nathan Hoekstra. Great grandchildren are Isabelle, Tyler, Evie, Audry, Conner, Sophie, Macklin, and Wyatt. She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur; her mother, Iva; her sisters: Doris Peterson and Donna Bottensek; and her brother, Johnny Sandman.