Florence E. Tuinstra, of Shelbyville, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the age of 88.
Born Aug. 5, 1928, to Duke and Edith (Dykstra) Leep, and raised in Martin, Florence was the youngest of seven children in her family, joining her older siblings, Clarence, Winifred, Charles, Clara, Joe, and Jennie. She worked alongside her siblings in the fields on their family farm picking onions and sweet corn. She attended the Martin area schools. Due to her scholarly aptitude, she had the opportunity to skip a grade and went on to graduate at the age of 16.
Her church home at East Martin Christian Reformed Church was where Florence met her future husband, Harold Tuinstra. As babies they were baptized together, and through the years they grew up in the same church family. Florence and Harold were joined in marriage soon after he returned home from serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1952.
They lived in Martin where Harold eventually opened a barbershop in the Wayland area. Florence was a homemaker for their four children, Bart, Joan, Ed, and Dawn. Florence was an excellent cook and continued to enjoy making large Sunday dinners for her family well after her kids were married.
When her children were all in school, Florence began working outside the home. For 20 years she served as a bookkeeper for Wykstra Oil Company. In their later years, Florence and Harold enjoyed traveling with friends. They also spent the summers at their trailer at Gun Lake, where relaxing summer days were spent going out on their pontoon. Florence spent her free time working on crossword puzzles and seek-and-find puzzles.
When Harold passed away in June of 2011, Florence relied on her faith and family to see her through.
She is survived by her four children: Bart Tuinstra, of Shelbyville; Joan (Bud) VanElderen, of Shelbyville; Ed Tuinstra, of Irons; Dawn (Roger) Anderson, of Martin; four grandchildren: Rachel Malstaff, of TX; Jessica Burt, of CA; Josh Anderson, of Martin; Jennifer Anderson, of Martin; two great grandchildren: Hailee and Wyatt. She is also survived by one sister: Jennie Helmholdt, of Jenison; brother and sister-in-laws: Alice Leep, of GR; Larry (Phyllis) Tuinstra, of Shelbyville; Dorothy Helmholdt and Arlene Wustman, both of Cutlerville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 2011 and siblings: Clarence, Winifred, Charles, Clara and Joe.
The family will receive friends 5 to 7 pm Friday from at the East Martin Christian Reformed Church. where her funeral service will be held at noon Saturday. Burial at East Martin Cemetery
Please visit Florence’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com to sign her online guestbook, share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to the East Martin Christian School.
