Royce Ann Deeren, 69, of Sherwood, passed away Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 12:00 Noon at Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood, with Pastor Trent Hammond officiating. Interment will be at Sherwood Cemetery in the spring of 2022.
Visitation will be held just prior to the funeral, from 10:00 a.m.-12 noon, also at Crossroads Bible Church on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Royce Ann was born June 25, 1952 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Henry and Elsie (LaValley) Van Dam. She grew up in Colon and attended Colon Community Schools with the class of 1970.
December 22, 1969, Royce Ann was united in marriage to Don Richard Deeren in Coldwater and they made their home in Sherwood. He survives.
She went on to attend Glen Oaks Community College, earning a degree in English and Psychology. Royce Ann’s education and training were helpful at the AOC office where she worked at Glen Oaks, as well as the multiple optical centers where she was employed in Coldwater, and at the customer service call center of Kirsch Manufacturing in Sturgis, from which she retired.
Family, faith and community held great meaning for Royce Ann. She was outgoing, knew everyone and was very service-oriented. She was especially proud of being one of the founders of Beginnings Care for Life in Coldwater and the work done through the center. Everybody called Royce Ann “Mom” or “Grandma.” She enjoyed taking care of people and inviting them into her heart and her home. She was a good cook who enjoyed feeding people. She was always on the go, helping put on community meals, funeral dinners and catering special events and celebrations.
Royce Ann was also musical, playing piano at the Assembly of God churches she attended in Colon and Union City, as well as at Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood. She enjoyed singing and directing choirs. In recent years she adopted her three youngest grandchildren and was very involved in their activities. Royce Ann cherished her family, especially the love and support she received from her husband. She found great enjoyment in attending faith-based women’s retreats and other church functions.
Left to mourn the loss of Royce Ann are her husband of 52 years, Don Deeren; her children, Don “Donny” (Nadine) Deeren of Sherwood and Joy Deeren of Tekonsha; grandchildren James Zongker, Jody Zongker and Tabitha Deeren, all of Sherwood, Haley Bosch of Grand Rapids, Kyle Deeren of Bronson, Christina Stokes of Athens, Alissa Wilbur of Bronson, Kathryn Blakenship of Sherwood, Katherine Woodward of Sherwood, Nikolias Standish of Hartland and Alex Wikkerink of Virginia; 14 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Verna (David) Hall of Colon, Robert (Janet) Van Dam of Colon and Roger (Karin) Van Dam of Shipshewana, IN; special friends, Debbie Drake, Phyllis Grenke and Janet Wedel; and her church family.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorials are suggested to Crossroads Bible Church, 1144 Dunks Road, Sherwood, MI 49089.
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