Obituaries

Obituaries: May 19, 2026

by ONN Staff

Updated May 19, 2026

Obituaries: May 19, 2026 — [Stock image]

Randall P. Assink

October 8, 1952-May 16, 2026

Randy P. Assink, 73, of Holland, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026, at his home.

Randy was born in Holland on October 8, 1952, to Herman and Hazel (Geurink) Assink. He attended West Ottawa Schools and graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1970. Randy worked for many decades and retired from Haworth, where he drove hi-lo. He was preceded in death by his parents and also his sister, Mary Assink.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren, Lisa and Brian Brinks (Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Abigail), Bryan and Trisha Assink (Samantha, Isabel, Zachary, Aubree); sisters: Luann (Dave) DeFeyter, Bev Assink and Chris Geerlings, and many extended family members.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St., Zeeland. Private interment will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., also on Tuesday, May 26, at Yntema Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to Doors of Hope or His Harvest Stand.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Randall P. Assink, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Cary Upson Barr

June 26, 1965-May 13, 2026

Cary Upson Barr, 60, of Muskegon, Michigan, passed away on May 13, 2026.

Cary was born on June 26, 1965, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Robin and Constance (Sinclair) Barr. He married the love of his life, Bretta Botbyl DeRouin, in 2024.

Cary graduated from Jenison High School and later attended ITT Technical Institute. His career began at Chuck E. Cheese, where he operated and maintained the animatronics at the Kentwood store for over five years. He went on to work at Nicholas Plastics in Allendale, Michigan, and eventually found his passion as a boilermaker with Local 69.

Outside of work, Cary was known for his love of tinkering-whether it was working on cars, snowmobiles, or various projects in his garage, he always found joy in fixing things.

Cary is survived by his wonderful wife Bretta; his two sons, Kyle (Ariel) Barr and Jacob (Shelby) Barr, and his three cherished grandchildren, Wesley, Emma, and Wyatt. He is also survived by his sister Michelle (Jody) Genther, along with a niece, Alyssa, and a nephew, Trevor, as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A celebration of life service for Cary will be held at a later date; details to come. Please visit clockfuneralhome.com to share memories and sign the online guestbook. Cary will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cary Upson Barr, please visit our flower store.

Robert Curie Sr.

March 4, 1937-May 16, 2026

Robert Curie Sr. passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born on March 4, 1937, Robert lived in Grandville, Michigan.

Viola Mae Flokstra

April 1, 1950-May 18, 2026

Viola Mae Flokstra, age 76, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Viola worked for the Farmers Co-Op in Zeeland, Michigan, for over 45 years. She was a dedicated employee and loved her job. She enjoyed being outdoors on the farm, mowing the lawn, taking Model T drives with her husband, and especially loved her dog "Charlie." She was loved and will certainly be missed.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Ervin Zeerip, and sister, Marilyn Mokma.

She is survived by her husband, Ron Flokstra; sisters, Carolyn Rietman, Nelva and Jerry Timmer, Sandy and Cal Ver Beek; brother, Jerry and Sharon Zeerip; brothers-in-law, John Jr. and Diane Flokstra, Dale and Elaine Flokstra, David and Laurie Flokstra, Steve and Sue Flokstra; several nieces and nephews, and extended family.

A memorial service is at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Beaverdam Christian Reformed Church, 5166 64th Ave., Hudsonville, MI 49426.

Burial to take place in Beaverdam Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Viola's honor may be given to Beaverdam Christian Reformed Church at 5166 64th Ave., Hudsonville, MI 49426, or Sus Manos Gleaners, 2464 Wilshere Drive, Jenison, MI 49428.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Viola Mae Flokstra, please visit our Sympathy Store.

yntemafh.com

Sharon Rose Gehrke

January 15, 1943-May 15, 2026

The family of Sharon Rose Gehrke is deeply saddened to announce her passing on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the age of 83.

Born on January 15, 1943, in Holland, Michigan, Sharon passed away peacefully after living a very full and remarkable life.

Sharon was born and raised in Holland, Michigan, to Bill and Audrey Brewer. She graduated from Holland High School, where she met and fell in love with her husband of 55 years, Jack Gehrke.

Sharon worked for several years with Holland Public Schools at Longfellow Elementary as a school lunch aide and also volunteered her time as an errand and escort volunteer at Holland Hospital. Most of her working career was spent at home, where she was an exceptional mother to her and Jack’s four children.

Sharon was a woman of strong faith and attended First Reformed Church in Holland and later Trinity Reformed Church, where she last worshipped. She also enjoyed bike rides and thrifting. She could spend hours walking through the aisles of any store searching for treasures to add to her collections or to adorn her home. Sharon loved spending time at home in the company of those she loved. She never turned away someone in need, as evidenced by always opening her home and welcoming friends, family, and pets alike. She enjoyed listening to music and dancing with family and could always be heard laughing at family gatherings. To Sharon, there was never enough time in the world to spend with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sharon will be lovingly remembered by her four children, Melanie (Glen) Hopp, Glenn (Nancy) Gehrke, Jay (Sheri) Gehrke, and Michelle (Dan) Wilson; her 13 grandchildren, Kent, Joshua, Dustin, Logan, Megan, Ashley, Austin, Noah, Zoe, Macy, Brooke, Taylor, and Jordan; her 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Sharon is also survived by her sister, Marlene Plaggemars of Holland; sister-in-law, Patti Gehrke of Conyers, Georgia; nieces; and one nephew.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Jack “Bubba” Gehrke; her parents, Bill and Audrey Brewer; her in-laws, Elmer and Beverly Gehrke; brothers-in-law, Ed Plaggemars and Paul “Elmo” Gehrke; and her nephew, Billy Plaggemars.

Sharon passed away at Rest Haven Care Center, where she resided for one week. Prior to this, she lived at home with her granddaughter, Macy Wilson. Sharon’s four children would like to express how thankful and grateful they are to Macy, who spent the last several years caring for their precious mother.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Mulder Chapel, 188 W. 32nd St. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Holland.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sharon, please visit our floral store.

Carol P. McGeehan

August 31, 1948-May 15, 2026

Carol P. McGeehan was born on August 31, 1948, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and passed away on May 15, 2026, in Holland, Michigan.

She lived a life marked by faith, devotion to family, and a deep love of learning, travel, and the people she served. She was 77 years old.

Carol graduated from Hope College in 1970 and earned a master’s degree in education from Michigan State University, a reflection of her lifelong commitment to teaching and personal growth. She devoted 26 years of her career to Grandville Public Schools, where she served as a high school Spanish teacher and touched the lives of countless students with her patience, intelligence, and encouragement. Her work extended beyond the high school classroom as she also taught ESL at Davenport University and Christ Memorial Church, where she helped others build confidence, language skills, and opportunity. She approached her work with dedication and care, and she was respected for both her professionalism and her genuine concern for those she taught.

Carol was the beloved wife of George for 56 years, and together they built a life centered on love, partnership, and shared memories. A woman of Christian faith, Carol lived with a spirit of kindness and purpose that was evident in all she did. She was adventurous by nature and found joy in the beauty of the world around her. She loved hiking in Glacier National Park, skiing in Colorado, and swimming in the waters of Kauai. These experiences reflected her love of nature, movement, and discovery, and they brought her great happiness throughout her life. Those who knew her best will remember her as adventurous, kind, and intelligent, qualities that shaped her character and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Carol’s life was one of grace, strength, and quiet impact. She was a devoted wife, a loving sister, an accomplished educator, and a faithful Christian. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Evelyn Pearce; and her sister, Barbara (Pearce) Williams.

She is survived by her husband, George McGeehan; sister, Susan Carney; brothers-in-law, Al (Marsha) McGeehan, Jeff (Lynn) McGeehan, and sister-in-law, Susan (John) Grollimund.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Hospice of Holland, Resthaven, or Christ Memorial Church.

No services are scheduled at this time.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol P. McGeehan, please visit our floral store.

Linda Lou (Freestone) Schaftenaar

April 13, 1949-May 16, 2026

Linda Lou (Freestone) Schaftenaar, 77, of Holland, Michigan, passed away on May 16, 2026.

Linda was born in 1949 to Marvin and Marjorie Freestone and resided in Holland, Michigan, throughout her life. She attended Holland Public Schools before marrying her beloved husband Richard (Dick) Schaftenaar in 1967 and raising their daughter, Tonya.

Linda pursued a variety of professions over the years. She worked alongside her father-in-law at his medical practice, managed several local restaurants, including The Hatch, Calypso’s, and Mr. Steak, and later served as a parapro in food management and the events coordinator at the Ottawa Area Career Line Technical Center. After retiring, Linda remained active in the Holland community by volunteering at the Warm Friend and the Community Action House Secondhand Store. She also organized golf tournaments benefiting veterans and active-duty military in memory of her brother, Scott, who gave his life serving our nation in Vietnam.

Since high school, Linda and Dick shared a close bond with a cherished group of lifelong friends: Dick and Jean Schmidt, Mark and Paula Nieuwsma, Rich and Cindy Arenas, and Tim and Linda Kragt. Through the decades, this group stood alongside one another as they got married, raised their children, traveled together, and lovingly embraced their roles as grandparents to the next generation.

Linda was famous for her homemade banana bread and chocolate chip cookies, which accompanied her wherever she went, as well as for her handmade gifts and beautiful cards. For many years, she proudly held the title of “costume lady,” building an impressive collection of costumes for her friends, family and neighbors to enjoy. She was also an active member at Christ Memorial Church for many decades.

Above all, Linda cherished being a mother and grandmother. She devoted herself to ensuring her daughter and grandchildren felt deeply and unconditionally loved, sending “just because” cards and gifts, sharing many meals and holidays, playing card and board games, and faithfully attending every recital, game, and performance. Her joy in spending time with her family was unmatched, and she will be remembered for her unending love and commitment to her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Marjorie Freestone; her brother, Spencer Scott Freestone; her parents-in-law, Dr. Richard and Julia Schaftenaar; her brother-in-law, Doug Knapp; and her sister-in-law, Jane Walton.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Schaftenaar; her daughter, Tonya (Art) Tolsma; her grandchildren, Nola (David) Julian, Areal (Jonathan) Vanden Akker, Avery Tolsma, and Megan Tolsma; her siblings, Nola Freestone (Bob Levitan), Ken (Lorma) Freestone, and Mike (Deanne) Freestone; her sisters-in-law Margie Knapp and Becky (Rick) VanEenenaam; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the caring staff at Quincy Place Senior Living in Holland for their compassion and love shown to Linda in her final months.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home: 315 E. 16th St., Holland. The funeral service honoring Linda will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Calvary on 8th, 995 E. Eighth St., Holland. Burial will be in Graafschap Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to:

Fisher House Foundation: fisherhouse.org
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Ste. 410
Rockville MD 20852

Emmanuel Hospice: emmanuelhospice.networkforgood.com
401 Hall Street SW, Ste. 263
Grand Rapids, MI 49503