Henrietta Martha Zandstra died Thursday, May 6, at the age of 100.
She experienced the Great Depression, two world wars, advances in human rights, science and technology, so many things she could never have envisioned.
I was born in Hull, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 1921, in her parents’ home, she enjoyed growing up with many siblings and animals, learning first hand you did not need much to be happy. Her mother, Aartje, was deaf, her dad was Adrianus.
After graduating high school in Hull, she moved to California and ultimately settled in Grand Rapids, where she secured a job building airplane parts for WWII efforts. On weekends, she enjoyed the carnival rides at East Grand Rapids’ Ramona Park. In those days she would roller skate, bake and search for four-leaf clovers (which she amassed by the hundreds).
She married Art Zandstra. When they dated, he taught her how to drive.
“Art had a fast car that he always kept shiny (which he let me take out solo while he was away driving truck),” she recalled.
The couple spent summers and winters playing out at Gun Lake with their three children. About 20 years ago, she decided to make lake life more permanent and moved to Gun Lake, where she watched her grandchildren grow up next door.
“During my early travels, I was gifted my first Kodak camera and discovered my love of photography, the result being many a large box brimming with memories… photos of people, places, things, flowers, you name it (my children even tease me for photographing dirt),” she said. “I now leave my gaze of these moments for my loved ones to explore. I know they will enjoy looking back on all the photos of gardens I’ve created, baked goods I’ve made, and jam I’ve canned.”
Surviving are children Arthea Zandstra-Lawrie, Ron Zandstra and Patti Zyskowski; two sons-in-law, Paul Zyskowski and Jay Lawrie; grandchildren Tate Zandstra, Cullen Zandstra, Carli Zyskowski, Nicholas and Chelsea Zyskowski; great-grandson Owen Zyskowski and his little brother (who will arrive this June).
“As a person who always set out to accomplish things in life, I am proud to have achieved my ultimate goal of becoming a centenarian!” she said. “I am the last of my 11 siblings (Jennie, Pauline, John, Cornelia, Morris, Hendrika, Adrian, Marie, Arta, Arlyna, and Marie-Elizabeth) who all went before me.”
She added, “My generation are savers; I did more than my share. I filled two homes with treasures from my lifetime, but I know that when I go these things won’t mean as much as the memory of me saving a tiny-wounded bird or holding my loved ones close.”
In lieu of flowers, she asks that a tree be planted in her honor.
Our deepest condolences to the family. What profound wisdom exhibited in her statement about treasures and what matters. Certainly something we all need to remember and teach our children. What a lesson for today’s America.