Sue Huizenga ’59 Kanis

Suzanne Kanis (Huizenga), age 84, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

Sue lived her life with the twin objectives of loving God and loving her family and those she was privileged to know. She seemed to accomplish it with effortless ease practicing unparalleled hospitality. From her graduation from Hope College, teaching first grade in Grand Rapids, to supporting her family enterprise in the waste business to becoming a pastor’s wife, she did this all with grace and dignity. All the while faithfully and ever graciously giving in sacrificial, unconditional love to her family. Her sense of propriety and order never left her as even in her last days she couldn’t bear to see a cup left out of place!

Those present in heaven for the joy-filled celebration of her home-coming will have been the love of her life, Herman, whom she never ceased to grieve since his death in November of 2020, her mother and father, Peter and Elizabeth Huizenga ( Bovenkerk), her brother Peter Huizenga, and sisters B.J. Buntrock and Ginger Jurries. There is no doubt that, holding Jesus’ hand and present to welcome her precious “Gabby” home was her nine-year-old granddaughter Caroline “Peach” Kanis who loved her with inexpressible love and insisted that Gabby was her best friend.

Heaven’s gain is our loss, though, as Sue is survived by her daughters and their husbands April and Jim Ryan with grandchildren Margot (Reid) Shipley and great-grandsons Frank and Hugh Shipley, Dylan and Julia Smith, and Shannon and Kelly Ryan; and Sally and Dean Pfaff; son and daughter in-law Michael & Tina, with grandsons, Grayson, Christian, and Noah; brother and sister-in-law J.C. and Tammy Huizenga; sister-in-law Heidi Huizenga; sister-in-law Cynthia Kanis.