Lorraine VanFarowe ’50 Sikkema

Lorraine Joyce Sikkema, age 95, of Holland, MI, passed away on Sunday, Jan 28, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, LaVerne Sikkema. Lorraine was born near Beaverdam, MI, on May 19, 1928. She attended Hope College where she met LaVerne. Both felt called to serve the Lord as missionaries overseas. They married in 1951 and were sent by the Reformed Church in America to Africa later that year. Together the couple spent over 40 years in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya serving the Lord by serving the rural people, first through agriculture and later through aviation, with Mission Aviation Fellowship.

She is survived by their five children: Linda (Dennis) Popkes, Karen (John) Loudon, Milton (Sheri) Sikkema, Arloa (Larry) Ten Kley, and Charlotte (Barton) Pinson. She has 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Lorraine loved reading the Scriptures, singing hymns of praise to God and playing piano for mission gatherings. She home schooled her children in primary years and taught English to students in Africa. Her children enjoyed receiving long detailed handwritten aerogram letters about daily life, her prayers for them and encouragement to be faithful witnesses for Him. In later years, jigsaw puzzles, word searches, Bible reading and prayer were her passion. One of Lorraine’s lifetime favorite verses is Psalms 27:1 which says: “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 2, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Dykstra Funeral Home – Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Ave.,Holland. The funeral service will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00am, at Beechwood Reformed Church, 895 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland; lunch to follow. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Gardens.