Shirley Anne Weersing

Shirley Anne Weersing, 83, of Holland, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Clark and sister Jane Paulton of Palm Coast, FL, niece Carol Ann Paulton and her son Ben, also of Palm Coast, FL. Also surviving are niece Penny Machinski of Portland OR, and nephew Nathan Weersing of Saphron-Walden, England and their families. Shirley was born July 30, 1931 to Harold and Anna Hungate of Indianapolis. Indiana. She loved Shortridge High school and her youth group at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. She attended Hanover College, where she graduated magna cum laude with an alumni achievement award. Recruited to Indiana Bell Telephone Co., she enjoyed working there for six years before her marriage to Clark in 1958. When they moved to Holland, she worked 10 years in personnel at General Electric Co. When Ronald Reagan visited GE, it was her honor to present him a pair of wooden shoes. She soon joined Holland Garden Club and American Association of University Women and was a life member of both organizations. Her passion for gardening led to many projects for the City of Holland, including serving on the mayor's Centennial Park restoration committee, the Cappon House Task Force, Arbor Day tree planting ceremonies, and chairing the landscaping of Herrick Library after its expansion, to name a few, all of which received support from the garden club. She served as treasurer of AAUW and president of Holland Garden Club. She was grateful to receive the first Netherlands' "DeMooiste Lente Tuin" medallion for the most beautiful spring garden at Tulip Time in 1980 and again 10 years later. Holland Garden Club provided plantings for one side and front corner of the new police and court building and Shirley was among the members doing the planting. Serving as historian she wrote and published the Holland Garden Club history in 1997. While she was Garden Club president the club was honored to support the establishment of Window on the Waterfront with their name included on the wall of honor. Shirley and other Freedom Village folks spruced up the parking lot entry to that park for Holland Bloom. In 2013 she was one of Resthaven's Seven Over Seventy honorees. A member of First Presbyterian Church since 1966, Shirley loved singing in the choir and served a term as president of Presbyterian Women. When ordained an elder she served two terms, first as treasurer and later as Clerk of Session. As grounds chair for many years she tended the garden beds and led the creation of a memorial garden there. As historian she wrote the church history from 1958 to 2000. While longtime members of the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, Shirley and Clark enjoyed sailing around Lake Michigan and chartering in the Caribbean. Shirley published the club newsletter and yearbook for some years and wrote the history of the club for its 100th anniversary year. As historian she tended the club's records in the Holland Museum archives. Fifteen retirement years were enjoyed in Florida during the winter at Burnt Store Marina near Punta Gorda. Ever active, Shirley was a founding editor of the community newspaper, condo association president and helped create a memorial garden for the Presbyterian church there. A memorial service to celebrate Shirley's life will be held on July 23, 2015 at 11:00 at First Presbyterian Church (659 State St. Holland, MI 49423) with Rev. Linda Knieriemen officiating. There will be a reception following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian memorial fund. Arrangements are being made by the Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home. www.langelandsterenberg.com

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Shirley Anne Weersing

July 8, 1932 - July 8, 2015