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BORN
1952
DIED
2017
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James Piersma Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for James Piersma
Sponsored by Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home.
May 8, 2017
I miss you Bart Katz
March 9, 2017
Dear Amy and family,
I just saw Jim's obituary, and I am so sorry for your loss. May God's comfort surround you.
Char Dozeman
March 2, 2017
So deeply sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in the days and weeks ahead.
The Palmatier Family from HC and Team 107
Russ Blanchard
March 1, 2017
Our world is not quite as colorful with Jim gone - yet we will have a grand reunion in heaven with him as well as with Jesus. We enjoyed our years volunteering at the Community Kitchen with chef Jim, the great character that he was!
Russ & Sandy Blanchard
Duane Haring
March 1, 2017
Ill remember the great times volunteering and eating at Community Kitchen, listening to Jim play and great conversations with joy. A remarkable, soulful person has left his legacy with us. Condolences to family and close friends. Will miss ya, Jim.
February 28, 2017
We and others at Grace were so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. Thinking of you and the boys, with much love.
Jen & Brad, Graeme & Paul
Larry Wagenaar
February 28, 2017
So sorry to hear of your loss. Amy, you and your whole family with be in our thoughts and prayers.
Kathe Freeman
February 28, 2017
to the Piersma family may you all be comforted by God's loving grace and his unending love. Jim was a kind and caring soul ,who always made everyone feel welcome and at ease. Had a few conversations with him and he shared his insight for this life and made you feel better. I thank our Father in heaven for having him touch my life. God be with you all at this time of your loss and give you Peace.
Joseph Brown
February 27, 2017
I have many good memories of Jim and I can't quite grasp yet that he is gone. I wish it were not so, Holland seems a different place now. My condolences to all of his family and many friends. He has touched along with my own many lives.
Rev. Dan DeVries
February 27, 2017
Everyday at lunch during my time in Seminary, I would walk into the soup kitchen to a welcome from Jim. He loved people so well and shined the light of Jesus brightly. Well done good and faithful servant. May Gods seeking comfort find all of Jims family and friends.
Tom Lokers
February 27, 2017
My heart goes out to all the relatives of Jim. It has been my pleasure to know him since we worked together at Sears, Woodland Mall in 1971-1972. I have nothing but good memories, although I have only seen him off and on in the last few decades. You all have my deepest Christian sympathy. Sincerely yours, Tom Lokers
Rev. Steven Mulder
February 27, 2017
May the Lord's peace comfort your family in this time of grief and loss. My son Ben is on the Robotics team with Nicolas.
Bill & Carol Mollett
February 27, 2017
Amy, You may not remember us but we taught the boys in Sunday School class at Grace year's ago. Nic would sneak out of his classroom and come join the older kids in our class, with his brother. We send our sympathies to you and the boys. So sorry to hear about Jim's passing. You will be in our prayers. He was an amazing man. God bless.
February 27, 2017
Nikolaas,
Just wanted to let you and your family to know that I am praying for you and your family in this time of loss.
Your robotics team is also thinking and praying for you.
Bob Bonczyk mentor for TEAM 107 Holland Christian Robotics.
Ryan Schierbeek HCHS Robotics Mentor
February 27, 2017
My prayers and condolences go out to Nickolas and his family. I will be praying for strength and peace to come to you and your family in this dark time.
Jon Dykstra HCHS Robotics mentor
February 27, 2017
We are sad with you for your loss of father and husband. What a blessing to know that he is with our Savior! I hope that Nikolaas will feel the support of Team 107; We're a family that's there for him.
Laura
February 27, 2017
Life is a river that flows too fast
Caring for all the water's mass
God turns it all over the land
Traveling far away from the safe sand
If only the river went on forever
Then we all could be together
Verlonna TenBrink
February 27, 2017
My condolences to your family. I understand what it's like to have a wonderful father, and I hope that his memory may live on as something precious and meaningful to you all.
Nicki Bonczyk
February 27, 2017
Nikolaas,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. I will miss getting to talk to your dad when he stops in for Robotics Team functions.
Michelle Bonczyk
February 27, 2017
I met Nikolaas, Amy and Jim a few months ago and knew right away that Jim was quit a character! From the stories that Jim told me, I could tell that he had a huge impact on the Holland community. Jim blessed many individuals and will be missed a lot. Praying for Amy and Nikolaas and the rest of the Piersma family as they mourn.
John Olsen
February 27, 2017
Jim will be missed by many. Love and prayers: John Olsen
Lloyd Robinson
February 27, 2017
Our prayers and condolences go out to the family,I know he will be missed.
Don, Kristi, Elizabeth and Dan Paul
February 27, 2017
We are saddened by his loss and lift his family up in prayer. "Blesses are those who mourn, for the shall be comforted..." (Jesus's words) Matthew 5:4
Mary Jane Noteware-Cotta
February 26, 2017
Dearest Jim and Amy, What a journey it has been. So many memories. Joy and sometimes pain. Cooking at the 6th St house, baby boys, Choir at Grace and afterglows, Katz N Jammer and nights out w Bart! Theology lessons,even an ear piercing party! What a passionate, intriguing, intelligent, creative, commanding force you were in this life. Thank you for the spark and joy your brought and for failing to tell you how uniquely special you were. I know that you brought comfort empathy and hope to many through "your" kitchen. In our concert this afternoon with the Northern Michigan College Chamber singers, we sang Raeph Vaughn Williams "Rest". I sang it for you. I hope you heard it.
" O earth, lie heavily upon her [ his] eyes, seal her [his] sweet eyes, weary of watching earth. Lie close around her [him] , leave no room for mirth, with its harsh laughter, but for sounds of sighs. She [he] hath no questions, she [he] hath no replies.Hushed in and curtained with a blessed dearth of all that irked her [him] from her [ his] hour of birth, with stillness that is almost Paradise. Darkness more clear than noon day holdeth her [him,] silence more musical than any song; even her [his] very heart hath ceased to stir. Until the morning of eternity, her [his] rest shall not begin, nor end, but be. And when she [ he] wakes, and when she [ he] wakes, she [ he] will not think it long".
Jim, my friend, Please teach them how to color outside the lines in Heaven. until we meet again.........
Trudy
February 26, 2017
Condolences to the Piersma Family -- Jim's daily laughter and expert skills in the Community Kitchen will always be remembered.
John McGee, Jr
February 26, 2017
He will be missed.
Dave and Karen Zwart
February 26, 2017
We were so shocked and saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He was a very special, bigger than life person who will be sadly missed by many. The Community Kitchen will not be the same without Jim. Our sincere sympathy to Amy and the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Kerrie Esmeier
February 26, 2017
Every Sunday morning he warmed up his bass with the theme to Sesame Street and never failed to make me chuckle. He will be greatly missed!
Mike Oonk
February 26, 2017
Jim was one of my best friends, forever. I loved knowing him, singing and playing music with him, and just having fun with him, for almost all of my life. I think the work that he did with the Community Kitchen was a wonderful indication of who he was. His love of humor was exceeded only by his love of people and his love of God. He is with his Savior now, who is saying "when I was hungry, you fed me". Jim, I will miss so much, but I will see you again. Mike Oonk
NICHOLAS WEEBER
February 26, 2017
Prayers go out to the family. Have not seen Jimmy in a long time and just 2 weeks ago I remembered he worked at the Food kitchen on Hope's campus. Stopped and spend some time catching up and seeing what a ministry Jim was involved with and leading.
Always made me smile... always "coloring outside the lines". I will miss him.
PS Jim; any time you want to hunt rabbits at the farm; have at it!!
Jack C. Oonk
February 26, 2017
Jah... Het is een zeer droevige tijd. Ik mis mijn goede vriend. - Dyk.
Terri Richardson
February 26, 2017
Thank you Jim for your service to the community. You will be greatly missed.
Holly, Andrew, Claire and Luke
February 25, 2017
We are holding you up in prayer. Singing hymns brought comfort ... so many fitting verses! The True and Living God is with you as you walk this path. May comfort, peace and great love be yours!
Jill Piersma-Johnson
February 26, 2017
I will always appreciate and cherish Jim's honesty, humor and uniqueness. I would run into him at Meijers on 16th st. The encounters were brief but memorable. Love ya Jim. Much love and sympathy to Amy and family, especially Aunt Ann.
Kathleen OConnor
February 26, 2017
Oh hea, as the Piersma's would say. Cousin Jim used to tickle me till Aunt Ann made him quit and as we grew up we just saw each other at reunions (hasn't been one in years) and at the grocery store where we caught up on family. I am so sorry you had to leave too soon. Give my dad a hug will ya?
So sorry for your loss Amy and family.
Cousin Kathi Piersma OConnor
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