Moline native Martin Boersma died Friday at the age of 85.
Born in Moline in 1933 to Marcus and Martina (Schans) Boersma, the ninth of 11 children, after graduating from Grand Rapids Christian High School, he served in the US Army. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Keegstra, his wife of 63 years, who survives.
He joined his father and brother at Boersma Builders, Inc., from which he retired. He was a longtime, dedicated, active member of Burton Heights Christian Reformed church, and more recently Sunshine Church. Mart was an active volunteer at his churches and other ministries, as well as serving as an effective leader, employer and mentor through his business.
Music was also a love of his. Mart sang in Gospel quartets, the Men’s Choraliers, church choirs, and the Men’s Chorus at Holland Home Raybrook.
Surviving in addition to Barb are his children, Deborah Zondervan, Tom (Brenda) Boersma, Mary (Kurt) Brace, Paul (Sandy) Boersma; grandchildren, Andrew and Darcy Boersma, Rachel and Daron Short, Liz and Rush Thompson, David and Brie Brace, Daniel and Colleen Brace, Eric and Angela Zondervan, Jessica and Billy Richards, Susan and Michael Sutherland, Joel Boersma, Anna and Mark Stehouwer, Peter and Rebecca Boersma, Mark and Clae Boersma; 14 great grandchildren; siblings, Eleanor Elenbaas, Bert Boersma, Harry and Helen Boersma, Bertha and Len Steensma, Grace Harper, Ben and Cleo Boersma and Anne and Ron Ezinga; and brother-in-law Howard and Linda Keegstra and sisters-in-law, Loekie Boersma and Ann Boersma.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Phillip Martin Boersma; brothers, William, Henry and Ralph Boersma, brothers-in-law, David Harper and Jack Elenbaas; and sisters-in-law, Kay Boersma and Marge Boersma.
The Memorial Service will be at Zaagman Memorial Chapel (2800 Burton St. SE) at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Marcus and Martina Boersma Memorial Scholarship Fund at Kuiper College.