Person:Fannie Kars (1)

“My heart overflows in thanksgiving to the Lord for his steadfast love, provision and faith given to me these many years. I rejoice in the manifold blessings and faithfulness He has afforded me, solely in and through His redemptive work. I press on – ‘tis grace that led me through strength and weakness, and will lead me home.”

People who knew Fannie Gruppen were blessed – by her unconditional love and her generosity of spirit. Her life was lived as a testament to her faith and serves as an inspiration to us all.

The turn of the century decade, from 1900 to 1909, was one of transition and progress. The industrial age was in full swing and mass production made prices fall to all time lows. Henry Ford provided the first affordable car and the Sunday drive became a national pastime. Fannie was born into these changing times on April 11, 1908, in East Saugatuck, Michigan. As the oldest of four girls, it fell to Fannie to help her mother care for her younger sisters, Grace, Susie and Jennie. Sadly, Fannie was nine years old when her mother died unexpectedly, leaving her much of the responsibility to raise her sisters and try to be a good mother figure too.

In 1931, a wonderful thing happened to Fannie – she met the love of her life, John Gruppen, who was ten years her senior. They fell in love over a traditional courtship and were happily married during a very bad snowstorm, making their wedding day even more memorable. The newlyweds settled into married life together in John’s childhood home in Graafschap, but later moved to a farm in Fannie’s hometown of East Saugatuck. While John supported them through his job at Roamer Yachts, Fannie put the farm to good use raising and selling piglets to supplement their income.

Some time later, the couple left the farm life and moved into town, where they remained for the next 40 years. Here, Fannie worked for several families in the Holland area as a housekeeper, nanny and caregiver to their elderly relatives. Since Fannie’s strong motherly instincts were honed at an early age, she was deeply committed to caring for these families. Her benevolence radiated and was reflected in those around her.

One thing that upheld Fannie throughout her life was her faith in the Lord. She and John were devout Christians and members of the 16th Street Christian Reformed Church. They later joined the Fourth Reformed Church, which Fannie still attended.

Although Fannie’s life was happy, it was also marked by great sorrow. Fannie lost her beloved husband, John, in 1966, as well as her sisters, Grace and Susie. Through family and faith, Fannie found strength to carry on, and she continued to live independently, with the loving help of her sister Jennie and her family, until she was 97. Thereafter, Fannie went to live in an assist-living community at Lakeside Vista and Villas, where she quickly settled in and tried to naturally take charge.

Fannie’s years of dedicated work afforded her both a happy place in life, and a family that loved her dearly. She will be greatly missed.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.”

Fannie Gruppen, age 99 of Holland, MI, died on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at Lakeside Vista and Villas. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Gruppen. She is survived by her sister, Jennie Johnson, of Holland; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 24, at 11:00 a.m. at Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland, with Rev. Judy Van Dyke officiating. Burial will be in Graafschap cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, September 23, from 2-4 p.m. at the chapel. Please visit Fannie’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign her online guest book and/or share a memory with her family.

1. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=gruppen&GSfn=john&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=49789296&df=all&, in Find A Grave.