Arlene Jean Van Popering

Arlene J. Van Popering, age 88, of Grand Rapids, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 6, 2026, and is now united with her husband of 66 years, Allan J. Van Popering, and her infant son, Douglas Allan.She was preceded in death by brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters, and sisters-in-law: George & Wilma Lynema, Sidney Lynema, Martha and Mike Anderson, Janette and Vern Ensing, Cora (Flier) and George Kooistra, Bernard Flier, Billand Norma Van Popering, and Leslie Meyering. Arlene will be deeply missed by her four daughters: Brenda (Dan) Vander Ploeg, Mary (Jon) Last, Trish (Jeff) DeVries, and Stephanie (Steve) Montsma; her grandchildren: Rob (Kelly)Dykstra, Michelle (Dan) Timmerman, Matthew (Hannah) Last, Michael (Amanda) Last, Luke (Meagan) Last, Mary Elizabeth (Samuel) Hasse, Sarah (Jonathan) Shedd, Austin, Cole, Brody, and Wes Montsma; and her 10 great-grandchildren. Her sisters-in-law, Suzanne Lynema and Carole Meyering.

Arlene loved being a mother to her four girls and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a servant at heart, and was always willing to help at the Christian Schools' hot lunch programs and at Coffee Break at Princeton CRC. She enjoyed water-skiing, snow-skiing, camping at the beach, and loved to swim. She attended many of her kids' and grandkids sporting events. She enjoyed winters down in Florida with family and her many lifelong friends. Arlene would never pass up an opportunity to go shopping with her daughters, and enjoyed her ladies' breakfast gatherings every week. She was a quiet, sincere, and kind lady who loved the Lord, her family, and her friends. The family would like to give special thanks to her home health caregiver, Tammy, along with Faith Hospice and Trillium Woods for all their wonderful support and care.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Princeton Christian Reformed Church, 5330 Kalamazoo Ave, SE, Kentwood, MI, with Pastor Steven Hull officiating. A private graveside service will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens later that day. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, March 10, from 6 to 8 pm, at Matthysse Kuiper Degraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave, SE, Kentwood, and from 10:00 am to 10:45 am on Wednesday prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Faith Hospice or Biblical Worldwide Ministries, PO Box 547, Caledonia, MI 49316.