Beatrice Arlene Van Eck

Beatrice A. Van Eck (née Van Heest) of Fife Lake, Michigan passed away early in the morning of Friday, September 5th, 2025, at Munson Hospital in Traverse City, MI. Bea was born on February 22nd, 1929, in Grand Rapids, MI to the late William and Marie Van Heest. She is survived by her loving husband of 76 years, Arthur, as well as her children Barbara (Myrna Johnson), Arthur W.(Jane), and Mary Knox (Mikel). Son Timothy (Doris) pre-deceased his Mother in 2019, for whom we all still grieve. Additionally, Beatrice was preceded in death by her siblings William, Jacob, Marvin, Joanne and Helene. She was greatly blessed with grandchildren & great grandchildren: Peter Andrew Keller (Valeri; Vivi, Luci), Kristin Gose (David; Jay, Emma), Philip Arthur Keller (Maggie; Maelyn, Sage, Elyse), Jeff Knox (Brynn, Mason, Addison), Eduard Benjamin Keller (Jennifer; Edson, Ashton, Hazel), Alexander James Keller (Anjali; Fritz, Ari, Petra, Ezra), Willem Van Eck and Nathan Van Eck. Mark Johnson, Marsha (Andrew) Dillon, Marian (John) Clough, Michael (Sue) Johnson, Margot (Steve) Tesar. Bea loved and was loved by so many more family members and friends the world over. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, at 11am at The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, 701 Westminster Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686. Contributions in memory of Bea may be directed to: Friends of the Fife Lake Public Library Writing the Next Chapter Capital Campaign PO Box 254 Fife Lake, MI 49633 The family is being served by the Kalkaska Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Please visit www.kalkaskafuneralhome.com to visit Bea's tribute page and share a memory with the family. Beatrice graduated from Ottawa High School in Grand Rapids, where she served as secretary of the Christian Endeavor Board. After graduation, Bea was employed by General Electric Supply until her marriage on August 24th, 1949, to Arthur Van Eck. Bea and Art then lived in Holland, MI where she attended Hope College until the birth of their first child. Southgate Michigan became the family home and Calvary Community Church their church family, as Art served as pastor after his graduation from Western Theological Seminary. A move to New Jersey in 1963 led to Bea's employment as office manager for the Presbyterian Board of Publication in Manhattan NY for 16 years. Bea was proud to complete her bachelor's degree in psychology at Ramapo College in New Jersey by the age of 50! Finally, in 1996, Bea and Arthur retired to their beloved Long Lake, in Fife Lake MI. Beatrice was devoted to her family: Arthur, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family reunions large and small were a boisterous affair! Bea maintained many long-distance friendships which sometimes led to travel! Beatrice and Arthur loved to travel - Alaska, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Russia, the Netherlands of course!, Kenya, South America, all over the US and Canada! Beatrice had a love for flowers, and great knowledge in this area. Need to know which window to put the Africa violets in? Call Bea. Tulips, roses, forsythia, daffodils, azalea, rhododendron, hydrangea- she loved them all! Beatrice and Arthur have been great supporters of their church and their communities, working with Habitat for Humanity, The Fife Lake Public Library, Safe Harbor of Traverse City as well as others. Beatrice was a lifelong servant of God. She entrusted her life and her soul to the Lord. "Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand has provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."