Twylla Nieboer

Twylla (Vander Molen) Nieboer, age 80, of Jenison, peacefully passed into heavenly Glory on Saturday afternoon, December 12, 2020, at home, surrounded by her family, after a year long struggle with pancreatic cancer. Twylla was born in New Sharon, Iowa, to Jacob and Nellie Vander Molen, graduated from Peoria Christian School, Pella Christian High School (valedictorian - 1958), and Calvin College (1962 - BA Education). She taught second grade at Oakdale Christian School in Grand Rapids, supervised student teachers for Calvin College in the Jenison Christian Schools, and she ended her career with 23 years of service to Calvin College as Alumni Records Administrator. In 1963, Twylla married Willard Nieboer with whom she raised three daughters, all Calvin College graduates: Kimberlee (BS Nursing), Michelle (BS Nursing) and Jacquelyn (MS Occupational Therapy). Twylla’s pride and joy was her family, especially her 11 grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Will, and family: Kim (Raymond) Herzog, [Jake, Sam, Anneke], Michelle (Brad) Busscher, [Brianna, Ashten, Alex, Braeden], and Jaci (Mike) Fiss, [Jack, James and twins Avery and Will]; a sister, Maryan (Guy) DeHaan; a brother, Larry (Linda) VanderMolen, of Pella, Iowa; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, and friends all over the continent. Twylla was an avid supporter of her grandchildren’s activities: baseball and soccer games, wrestling, diving meets, choir and orchestra concerts, musicals, recitals, programs and more; attending Boy Scout programs and Grandparents Days at Denver, CO Christian Schools with the Fiss kids, to Florida between chemo treatments to see Sam (Trinity College spring training) play baseball, to Michigan Tech in the U.P. to witness Jake’s graduation and commissioning as a 2LT in the U.S. Army, to Kansas for James’ academic award with Duke University, to Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland) to see Brianna’s white coat ceremony inducting her into a PhD program doing research in immunology, and much more. She was a friend to and will be sorely missed by literally hundreds of people who knew and loved her, family and friends from literally all over the continent, from schools, churches, and even the clerks at Family Fare where she shopped. She gave freely of her time and talents to Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church where we worshipped and volunteered wherever she could contribute. We want to give special thanks and appreciation to her doctor, nurses and staff at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, Atrio Home Care, and to Faith Hospice, whose doctor, nurses and staff so faithfully and caringly attended her needs in her last months. In lieu of flowers, we suggest memorial contributions be made to the Willard and Twylla Family Scholarship at Calvin University (By mail - 3201 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids 49546, or online to “calvin.edu/go/give”) or to Faith Hospice (2100 Raybrook SE, Suite 300, GR 49546). The family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of prayers, cards and wonderful support in this difficult time. Relatives and friends may meet the family Thursday, December 17, 2020, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Georgetown Township Cemetery. A larger service to celebrate Twylla’s life will be held at a later date.