Dorothy Moerdyk ’53 Hoekstra

Dorothy Ann “Dotty” Hoekstra, age 90 of Holland, Michigan, went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Freedom Village. She was born on November 18, 1931, in Amarah, Iraq, to the late William and Cornelia (Leenhouts) Moerdyk.

Dotty married Dr. George Hoekstra on September 3, 1954, in Holland, Michigan. He preceded her in death on February 17, 2020, after 65 years of marriage.

Dotty attended a boarding school in India during her early years, and later attended Holland High School, Hope College and Northwestern University School of Nursing. Before she retired, she was working as an RN in the dialysis department at Borgess Hospital of Kalamazoo. Dotty was a beloved mother, grandmother and faithful woman of God. She loved her Lord Jesus, her family, church and community. Dotty led a Good News Club at Barclay Hills School through Child Evangelism Fellowship, and enjoyed being involved in Sunday school and singing in the choir during her 30 years of membership at Haven Reformed Church of Kalamazoo. She also served at Haven on the missions committee and as the leader of a twice-weekly exercise and volleyball program for 20 years. Dotty was a long-time tennis player, playing with a group for 15 years in Holland. She also volunteered at International Aid of Spring Lake and on many mission trips during her 20 years at First Reformed Church of Grand Haven.

Dotty will be lovingly remembered and missed by her four sons: Lou’78 (Beth Daubenspeck ’78), Jim ’80 (Sheryl Israel ’81), Bill ’82 (Casandra) and Dick ’84(Susan) Hoekstra; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Margaret Moerdyk ’50 (Donald) Dansby. She was preceded in death by her husband; her brother, William John Moerdyk; a sister, Elizabeth (William) Short; and daughter-in-law, Dr. Vanessa Ameen.

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