Wayland High School graduate Mary Ann Reurink, of Middleville, died Sunday, Feb. 1, at the age of 79.
Mary was the oldest of six children born to Henry and Marie (Rietdyk) Blaauw. She was raised on her family’s dairy farm in Shebyville and was a graduate of Wayland High School and MSU.
Mary and her husband, Richard, were married for 57 years. They raised their three children in the home they built in the Middleville area and resided there until their passing.
Mary had a brief career as a home economics teacher in the Hastings School district in the late 1960s and 1970s. She later became a real estate agent and worked with her husband in his painting/barn restoration business.
Mary was an excellent homemaker who loved to cook, bake and sew. Her wonderful pies and desserts were always a staple at any gathering. Mary also was a nature lover and she especially enjoyed her flower gardens. Her early spring trips to the greenhouse were a highlight of the year for her. She and her husband helped plant and care for many trees and flowers at the Barry Expo Fairgrounds.
Most of all, Mary loved her family and cherished her time being a grandma to her seven grandchildren.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; sisters-in-law, Mary Poeller, Jane Worstell, and Karen Blaauw; brothers-in-law, Hank Reurink, Mike Poeller, and Jim King.
She is survived by her three children; Andrea (Mike) Wright of Hastings, Jim (Angie) Reurink of
Shelbyville, and Bob (Amanda) Reurink of Middleville; grandchildren, Abby Wright, Hannah (Codey) Clewell, Collin (Anna) Wright, Grace (Justin) Meyers, Maddie Reurink, and Jon and Brooke Reurink. She is also survived by her siblings; Janet and Mike Bremer, of Wyoming, Carol and Dennis Dornbush, of Spring Lake, Ken Blaauw, of Shelbyville, Dick and Terry Blaauw, of Holland, and Nancy Blaauw, of Hopkins; sister-in-law, Sue King, of Sawyer; brother-in-law, Ken Worstell; many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Per Mary’s wishes, no services will take place. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
