Phyllis Elaine VanHeerde, 69, of Coldwater passed away Sunday, December 6, 2020 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital. A private funeral service will be held for Phyllis at the Coldwater Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Mark Quinn officiating.
She was born March 29, 1951 to Maynard and Helen (Curtis) Spence in Hillsdale County. Phyllis was an Adrian High School graduate, class of 1986. On March 16, 2001 she married James VanHeerde and he preceded her in death on July 5, 2015. She had led a career in retail and sales but babysitting children was what she loved doing. Phyllis had been a member of the Coldwater Church of the Nazarene as well as the praise and worship team with the church. She enjoyed knitting and playing bingo but her family was everything, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a joy that could fill a room, a smile that was beyond contagious, and a laugh that was all her own. All special pieces that made up the loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother she was and will be missed for.
Phyllis is survived by her children Joseph (Becky) Bilby of Orange City, IA, Jennifer (Steven) Smith of Coldwater, James (Crystal) VanHeerde of Hillsdale, Troy (Adrian) VanHeerde of Ypsilanti, MI; her sister Doris Williams of Hayward, CA; 13 grandchildren Kathryne (Alex) Chapin, Micah (Mariah) Bilby, Caleb Bilby, Aaron Bilby, Kimberley Greenfield, Samantha (Blaine Bussell) Smith, Chloe Bilby, Jada Bilby, Erica (Mike) Oleksiak, Kendra (Richard) Brown, Steven (Megan) Smith Jr., Alisha (Tristan) Weiss, Kelsey (Ryan) Wagoner; 18 great-grandchildren and her loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband James, she was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Christina Greenfield, her sister Lois McGar and her brother Ronald Spence.
Memorial donations are suggested to the family or the Coldwater Church of the Nazarene.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.
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