Dorothea Irene Feenstra

Dorothea Irene Feenstra (Dorothy) was born to John and Irene Westerby on August 10, 1925, the second youngest of 8 children. She grew up on a farm near Ortonville, MI, and walked to school where she enjoyed sports, played the female lead in the senior play, and won the school spelling bee, the third girl in her family to do so. Her class of 1943 "giftatory" page noted that since she was the class "shorty," she was bequeathed a pair of stilts so that she could be seen as well as heard.
After high school, she worked briefly as a secretary and then moved to Grand Rapids to attend beauty school. After graduating, she worked for an older sister, Bernice Westrate, who owned a salon in Grandville. Later, she met and married a handsome serviceman, Evert Feenstra, who had returned from serving in WWII. Evert built their home in Hudsonville, and he designed it with a side entrance to a room that could be converted to a beauty shop. Son Gary and later younger sister Gail joined the family. Gary was 1+1/2 and Gail still in the womb when Evert died suddenly of cardiac arrest. At 27, Dorothy showed strength and fortitude and raised her children well, by demonstrating faith in her Lord, and surrounded by hers and Evert's family, as well as close friends, community, and church.
Hudsonville Baptist Church activities were important to Dorothy; she taught Sunday School and, as SS secretary, was responsible for printing the weekly church bulletin. She also worked with AWANA and sang soprano in the church choir and in a ladies' trio. She also nurtured the involvement of Gary and Gail in Children's Bible Hour, driving them to many practices and performances.
Dorothy operated "Dot's Beauty Shop" in her home after her children entered school, and she had many loyal customers for over 60 years. After retirement, she sold her home in Hudsonville and moved to Maple Lake Village Condominiums in Zeeland, and she began attending Immanuel Church of Holland, where for years she served on the greeting team as well as being active in adult choir, women's ministry, and her ABF class.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Evert, her parents, her siblings, and her son-in-law Randy Gowman. She is survived by her two children: Gary (Diane) Feenstra, and Gail Gowman; her six grandchildren: Heidi (Damon) Remigailo, David (Anne) Gowman, Joel (Melody) Gowman, Katie (Michael) Barnes, Todd (Julianne) Feenstra, and Kelsi (Sean) Donovan. She is also survived by her 17 great-grandchildren: Dasia, Samia, Marya, and Alexa Remigailo; Anika and Bridget Gowman; Gabe, Mark, Annabella, and Emma Gowman; Cale, Adelyn, and Garrett Barnes; and Jay, Carrington, Everlee, and Smith Feenstra. They will remember her as the active, game-loving Gigi, who always sent them a five-dollar bill on their birthdays. She loved all of her family deeply, and she loved serving others, often through her baking. She provided pies for Joni & Friends camps and various sweet treats for others. Friends and sta at doctor o ces, banks, and mechanic shops will remember her as the little woman who baked and delivered Texas sheet cake to brighten their day.
Services will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 8, 2025, Immanuel Church of Holland, 325 104th Avenue, Holland MI 49423. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Friday, November 7, at the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St, Zeeland MI 49464. Visitation also at Immanuel Church one hour before the service on November 8.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Dorothy's memory can be made to Immanuel Church of Holland Missions Fund, to Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference Building Fund, or to Hospice of Holland.
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