Frances Mae Rosema, age 86, of Gun Lake, died Sunday, Jan. 22, only two months after her husband, Roger. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this month.
Fran was born on Dec. 27, 1936, to Harold and Kathryn (Barendsen) Gelderloos. She graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and Calvin College/Blodgett Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing. Fran worked as an RN, a nurse educator, and later assistant director of nursing at Brookcrest Nursing Home. Once retired, she and Rog enjoyed exploring with their travel van across the U.S.A. and eventually spent their winters in Florida.
Fran loved to entertain friends and family, decorate, and garden. Her flowers were magazine worthy, and the coffee was always on. Fran took after her mother, and played the piano and organ in church, as well as accompanied for many solo ensemble performances for her kids. She and Rog enjoyed season tickets to the Grand Rapids Symphony and often treated family to a Christmas Pops Concert or theater performance each year.
She was active in school and church committees, was hostess for small group Bible studies, and was a faithful member of Gun Lake Community Church and Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral, Fla.
Fran and Rog faithfully attended band concerts and school and sporting events whenever they could.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Gwen and Scott Bolthouse of Holland; daughter-in-law, Shelly Rosema of Hudsonville; grandchildren, Lara and Matthew Brower of Wyoming, Stephanie and Caleb Rutkowski of Jenison, Connor and Bethany Bolthouse of Spartanburg, SC, Alex and Emily Bolthouse of Holland; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Harold and Jan Gelderloos of Spring Lake, and Glenn and Nancy Gelderloos of Wyoming; brother-in-law, Melvin Rosema of Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, and her son, Doug.
Per Fran’s wishes, a private family graveside service will take place at Grandville Cemetery.
