Esther June Brown

Esther June Brown, age 82, of Jenison, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at home. Esther was born on June 24, 1938, to the late Henry and Anna (Zwagerman) Schuitema.  Esther attended Holland Christian and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, MI, and was a member of the Class of 1955.  After graduation, she married Leo DeJong in Hudsonville, MI. Esther worked at Interstate Motor Freight Systems until her son was born and she stayed home to care for her five children, Dan, Dave, Lisa, Sue, and Jim. As a family, they enjoyed sailing on the big lake and camping. In 1988, Esther married Larry Brown. They really enjoyed teasing each other, traveling, and welcoming many grandchildren to their ice cream store and cottage in Fremont and to their home in Jenison on the lake.  Summers at grandma’s and grandpa’s were the best where grandma always offered ice cream and made the best strawberry shortcake (for dinner). Esther was an active member of Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church her entire life, where she served as a Calvinette leader and was involved in many church activities. She volunteered  her services at Jenison Christian Schools and Unity Christian High School while her kids attended there. She reentered the workforce and eventually retired after 12 years with Bissel. She spent the last 10 years attending and enjoying Bible study at Bible Study Fellowship. Esther is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Larry; four children, Dan (Sabrina) DeJong and his children Alyssa (Joe) Ponischil, Sophia, Brianna, and Christian DeJong; Dave (Jodie) DeJong and his children Sarah (Nate) Mulder, Rachel, Emily, and Andrew DeJong; Lisa (Rick) Venneman and their son Jacob; and Sue Kuzee and her children Lauren and Adam; her step-children, Scott (Shannon) Brown and children Samantha, Matthew, Madison, Neveah, Naomi, Hannah, Lexi, Jake, Gracie, Kennedy, and Liam; Michele (Andy) Malbouef and her children Keenan and Suriya; and Marc Brown and his children Tyler, Taylor, and Alexander; 4 great-grandchildren; brother, Bob (Ray) Schuitema;  sisters-in-law, Lois Schuitema, Susie Schuitema; and many many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Jim DeJong; her parents, Henry and Anna; her second mom, Fran; and her siblings, Casey (Nuke) Schuitema, John (Wilma) Schuitema, Polly (Orrin) Elenbaas, Jim Schuitema, Ruth (Sid) Johnson, Dorothy (Egbert) Bareman, Marge (Ken) Sloothaak, Henry Junior (Bea) Schuitema, and Al Schuitema. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, 1571 Baldwin St., Jenison, with Rev. Len Kuyvenhoven officiating.  Lunch will be served immediately following the service.  The burial will take place at Floral View Memorial Gardens.  Relatives and friends may meet the family Sunday, September 13, from 3-6 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW.  Memorial Contributions may be given to World Renew. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.