Suzanne N. Westra, age 72, of Marshall entered into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Monday morning, September 30, 2019. She died at the Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek and was surrounded by her loving family.
Suzanne was born January 15, 1947 in Glenridge, New Jersey to Warren H. and Elizabeth Anne (Moerman) Newkirk. She was a longtime resident of the Marshall area and had been employed as the Medical Office Manager with Dr. Eric Ebner. She served the office for 23 years, retiring in 2005.
On September 1, 1967, she married the love of her life, James "Jim" M. Westra in Grand Rapids. The couple had just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary earlier this month.
Suzanne was a godly woman and served her Lord proudly. She was a member of the Grace Community Church in Pennfield and served as the director for the church's nursery. Suzanne was very active in Bible study groups and enjoyed discipling new Christians.
Suzanne was very creative and loved decorating. She enjoyed flower gardening and always maintained beautiful gardens wherever she lived. She also enjoyed sewing and making quilts. She loved traveling with her husband and reading. She is remembered by her family as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, a woman of integrity that left an everlasting footprint on all the people who were in her life.
She is survived by her husband, James M. Westra; a daughter, Karri (Daniel) Iverson of Adrian, Michigan; sons, Daniel (Monica) Westra of Battle Creek and Jeffrey Westra of Battle Creek; 9 grandchildren; and a brother, Christopher (Mary) Newkirk of Rockford, MI.; and mother-in-law, Marian L. Westra.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Elizabeth Newkirk; and a beloved sister, Andrea Parbel in August of 2019.
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 4, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Marshall Chapel of the Kempf Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. A memorial service to celebrate the gift of her life and her Lord will be held 1:00 PM Friday at the funeral home with Rev. Brad Smith officiating.
Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to Grace Community Church of Pennfield or Ariel Ministries, P.O. Box 792507, San Antonio, TX. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.
To leave a personal message and sign the online guest book, please visit www.kempffunealhome.com.
Visitation
OCT
4.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)
Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services
723 US HWY 27 North
Marshall, MI, 49068
Celebration of Life
OCT
4.
1:00 PM (EDT)
Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services
723 US HWY 27 North
Marshall, MI, 49068