Marie Irene (Empie) Koorstra

McBain, Michigan- Marie Irene Koorstra, of Lake City, passed away on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Autumnwood of McBain. She was 89. Marie was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother and good friend to many.

Marie was born on September 19, 1929, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Glenn and Bessie (Smith) Empie. She married Richard Kuyt in 1948 and raised four children together: Dick, Shirley, Joanne and Christine. He later passed in 2012. Marie was 50 years old when she attended school to receive her LPN and spent her career working as a nurse for Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. In 1978, she married Richard Koorstra. The couple later relocated to the Lake City area and spent 25 years together until he passed in 2003. Marie had a beautiful alto voice and enjoyed singing at church or with her friends. She liked to spend time reading and tending flowers of all kinds, particularly roses. Marie was known for making jokes and her contagious laugh will be remembered by all who knew her. She met her soul mate, Doyle Nye in 2003, and they were a devoted couple until he passed in May 2015. Marie was a proud and faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lake City for many years and a life-time Christian.

Marie is survived by children, Dick (Joy) Kuyt of Wayland, MI, Shirley Lamse of Grand Rapids, Joanne Robbins of Lake City and Christine (Wayne) Chambers of Grand Rapids; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Irwin and Paul; and son-in-law, Billy Robbins.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 2 p.m. with visitation held one hour prior at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake City with Pastor Jan Jasperse to preside. Interment will take place at Lake City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Michigan.
 

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