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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Donna Jean (Straw) Boerma was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan February 23, 1941 and grew up in a very close-knit family. Time spent with her large extended family significantly impacted her life.
Donna was a strong, independent, intelligent, and capable woman, enjoying reading, math, and all types of learning. Fiercely competitive, Donna loved to win when playing all sorts of card and board games.
Donna met James Robert Boerma in the summer of 1962 while attending classes together at Michigan State University. October 11, 1963, she and Jim were married and completed their teaching degrees together as newlyweds. Later, Donna paused her teaching career to raise her daughters, Amy and Michelle, taking great pride in her family.
But above all else, Donna loved the Lord. She trusted Him as her Savior and desired to follow His lead in her life, actively studying God’s Word. This caused her and Jim to leave family, friends, and home to devote time to ensuring others knew God’s love and plan for their lives. She and Jim served in Russia for two years and Indonesia for one. After retirement, Donna and Jim found great joy in traveling extensively together, seeing new places, trying new things, and checking countries and continents off their bucket list. They prioritized spending time with family across Michigan, in Texas, and in Gulf Shores.
She fiercely loved her family and will be greatly missed by her devoted husband; her daughters and their husbands Amy and Brian Knight of Lake Linden, Michigan and Michelle and Beau Vincent of Diana, Texas; her grandchildren and spouses Abby and Hunter Robnett, Alex and Maddy Knight, Clara and Adam Gill, and Marshall and Amanda Knight; and her great grandchildren Brantley, Grace and Sonny Gill.
We will be celebrating the blessing of her full life on Donna and Jim’s 61st wedding anniversary, Friday, October 11, 2024 at Bethany Baptist Church, 48544 Main St. Dollar Bay, MI 49922.
Visitation will be held from 10am to noon with a service at noon and a luncheon to follow.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
