Rachel Tjoelker

Rachel Tjoelker, 85 years old, beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on September 25, 2024. She was set free from a lengthy battle with dementia and fully restored in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rachel was born on August 16, 1939 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was the third of four children born to David and Evah Howell. Rachel grew up in Grand Rapids and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1957. She studied Physical Education at Taylor University and then worked as a PE teacher at Lee High School in Wyoming. Later she earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Michigan State University. Rachel married Frank Tjoelker on August 27, 1966 and they were blessed with three children. Rachel was a wonderful mother! Frank and Rachel became members of Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in 1975, nearly 50 years ago. Always active in her church, she participated in Bible studies and taught Sunday school; she was also involved in Christian Women’s Club and Bible Study Fellowship. Reading was a favorite hobby and she was in a book club with her church friends for decades. Rachel was very physically active and played a mean game of racquetball and participated in many bowling leagues over the years. She loved to cook and bake and always prepared elaborate family dinners for holidays. In their later years, she and Frank enjoyed traveling and they visited many countries; she said her favorite trip was visiting Israel. Frank and Rachel were married for 48 years prior to Frank’s death in 2014. Rachel was a kind, joyful and loving woman who loved God with all her heart. She was a woman of unshakeable faith who put her trust in God’s promises of protection, deliverance, forgiveness and eternal life. In 2014 she began demonstrating signs of dementia and subsequently lived in several different memory care communities over the last ten years, the last being Grand Brook Memory Care in Wyoming. Though her dementia robbed her of her physical and cognitive abilities, the disease could not steal her soul! Rachel is now set free, whole and completely healed - running, dancing, praising and singing before the King of Kings! Praise the Lord!

The family wishes to thank the countless caregivers and nurses that poured out their love on Rachel over the years. Rachel is survived by her children: Andrew (Kris) Tjoelker, Sara (Thad) Roelofs and Frank Tjoelker; siblings: Esther Ross, Dan (Ruth) Howell, James (Faye) Howell; sisters-in-law: Irene Nieboer, Eleanor Tjoelker, Whim Orr, Gloria Tjoelker, Annette (Rich) Schalo; her grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Tjoelker; parents David and Evah Howell; stepmother Grace Howell; sisters-in-law: Rosemary Howell, Leona Tjoelker, Maxine Tjoelker, Lena Jones; brothers-in-law: Charles, John, Hank and Pete Tjoelker, Dick Ross and Norman Jones. 

Please join the family for a visitation on Monday, September 30 from 5-8:00 PM at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, Grandville (4145 Chicago Drive SW). A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held Wednesday, October 2 at 11:00 AM at Fellowship Christian Reformed Church (4375 Ivanrest SW, Grandville), with a visitation prior to the funeral from 10-10:45 AM at the church. Burial will take place in the Grandville Cemetery. 

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Crossroads Prison Ministries, Mission India or Set Free Ministries.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57