Tamminga, Jean Tamminga, Jean Theresa, age 86, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jean was born on December 24, 1934 in Chatham, Ontario to Timon and Catherine (Horlings) Hagen. As a child and young teenager she moved between Canada and The Netherlands, eventually landing post-WWII in Holland Marsh, Ontario. There she would soon meet the love of her life, Louis Tamminga, who had also recently emigrated from The Netherlands. In her memoir, Beginnings, she wrote that during their courtship "...we took long walks in the hills around the Marsh and talked and laughed and loved. It was to me as if Louis had dragged me from the abyss into the light and into his heart, and I rested there in trust." On June 18, 1954, Jean and Louis were married in Holland Marsh, Ontario. Their 67-year partnership was infused with faith, hope, and love - an inspiration to their family and all who were blessed to know them. She accepted duties as a pastor's wife, demanding as that was, and raised six children with commitment, abiding love, humor and a dash of independence. Louis and Jean would eventually travel around the globe as a team, jointly sharing their wisdom with far-flung colleagues active in missions and community development abroad. Throughout, Jean most cherished gezellig conversations over a cup of tea with her family and close circle of friends. Quietly, but with resolve, she devoted herself to lifelong learning and reading books that she valued, that were worthy and that she shared with others. This, and her abiding faith, gave her a profoundly nuanced view of the world, a sensibility that was uniquely hers. In her later years, she cherished afternoons lost in a good book, then tea with Louis at 3 o'clock, a simple dinner, and happy hour on the deck to admire the trees, clouds and bird song. These informed the grace that filled her life and sustained the peace of her final days. Jean was a natural and deeply present listener. Countless individuals of every walk of life drew near for conversation, counsel and comfort. She would ask a few questions and soon there was a pouring out of hearts to a sympathetic and wise listener. Empathy, to be sure, but seasoned with astute and pragmatic observations, too. This to her was the essence of visiting. One could unload, overcome by life's circumstances, but one also had to take ownership. Yet, sometimes, and always the right times, Jean would permit a free pass by saying, "Well, that's for the Lord." This ability to not own every woe of life gave her remarkable resiliency. Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her sons, Ben and David. She is survived by her beloved husband Louis and her children, Tim (Sandra Guay and their children Mark and Andrea); Karen (Dale Paton and their children, Carley Paton & Kevinton Brown and their son, Jayden; Mollie and Kestrel); Mark (Joany Verschuuren); Ken (Nancy Hofland, and their children, Meredith Tamminga & Daniel Singer; Aaron Tamminga & Danielle McEachern; Mila Tamminga & Peter Maple); her grand-daughter, Nicolette Jurgens-Tamminga (Jason Vander Meer and their son Lieuwe); Jean's sister, Pat Claus (daughters Cathy, Joanne, Michelle and Elaine and their families). A celebration of Jean's life will take place at Church of the Servant, 3835 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 at a to-be-determined date. A memorial contribution in Jean's name may be made to World Renew's response to the Covid-19 crisis in India.