Marylynn Webster

Marylynn Webster, 65 years of age, died peacefully at her home, surrounded by loved ones on December 23, 2024, after a courageous one-year battle with Esophageal Cancer. Marylynn was born on March 23, 1959, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Robert W. Webster and Eleanor O. Webster. She was the youngest of 5 children. Marylynn is survived by her husband of 30 years, Howard Bouwens, Jr., step-daughter Courtney Phillips and her husband Eric Phillips, step-son Carl Andrew Bouwens and three wonderful granddaughters, two terrific grandsons-in-law, and a shiny new great-grandson, Jamie Hof Grooters. (Why do I have the urge to add 'and a partridge in a pear tree'?) She is also survived by siblings Patricia W. Farmer and her husband Pete of Edmonds, WA, Suzie W. Bogeberg and her husband Ralph of West Lake Village, CA, Margaret M. Webster of Florida, and Ward J. Webster of Fennville, MI. Also, very special and much loved by Marylynn, a niece and nephew-in-law, and a nephew and niece-in-law, another nephew and fiancé, another niece, and another nephew and niece-in-law (phew), and grand-niece Natchez Hardiwig, and grand-nephews Henry and Finn Farmer. Marylynn graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and earned an Associate's Degree from Northern Michigan University and also took classes at Montana State University. Her main passions revolved around health, fitness, and the outdoors. She was a very accomplished athlete, earning recognition in biking, running, swimming, du-athlons, tri-athlons, cross-country skiing, and alpine ski racing. She participated in a nation-wide ski team competition where her team won a national championship. She had a special affection for helping others to improve fitness through walks and runs and hikes and workouts from her home and in the dunes and shoreline of Lake Michigan. She loved to walk with her dogs, her friends and occasionally her husband through the woods and dunes and shoreline near her home. Her fitness drive over the years saw her employed as a ski instructor at multiple resorts throughout her adult life. Marylynn also served as the Manager at a Curves franchise, Adventure Club Director at her local yoga studio, as well as an attendant at our prized Oval Beach. Most recently she worked as a fitness coordinator at the Holland Aquatic Center, a job she truly loved, as she loved the people with whom she worked. Marylynn was a member of St. Peter's Church in Douglas. Marylynn was a true friend to many, loved and was loved by many, left all who knew her just a little more happy and a little more grateful. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. There will be a memorial service to honor her memory at the family cottage at Cedar Bluff Park in Glenn, MI, this summer near Independence Day. An open house for friends and family to gather and reminisce will be held at her home on Sunday, December 29, 2024, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, allowing time for church attendance in the morning. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army, the Holland Aquatic Center, or the Harbor Humane Society. Arrangements are by the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland MI 49464. www.yntemafh.com

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Marylynn Webster

March 23, 1959 - December 23, 2024