Marilyn (Lyn) Zylema, age 85, of Holland, Michigan passed away peacefully and went home to Heaven on October 4, 2026. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 40 years, William (Bill) Bos. She is survived by her husband of 17 years, Jay Zylema; children Susan (Steve) Heyne, Michael (Laura) Bos, and Mark (Prudence) Bos; grandchildren Nathaniel Bos, Chloe (Daniel) Becker, Isabel Bos, Claire (Weston) Pfeiffer, Nina Heyne, Kyle Bos and Erin Bos; great-grandson Lewis Becker; sister Alvina Korthuis; sisters-in-law Lois Feenstra and Dorothy DeBoer; many nieces and nephews; step-daughters Linda Zylema and Sheila VanKampen; and several step-grandchildren.

Lyn was born in Corsica, South Dakota; when she was a child her family moved to Lynden, Washington. She attended Calvin College, where she met her first husband, Bill. Together they lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Ontario, California; Seabrook, Texas; and Coloma, Michigan. Bill and Lyn loved to travel and enjoyed taking their family on vacations. 

Lyn met her husband, Jay in Lynden, Washington, and they married on a beach in Hawaii. They moved to Holland, MI, where they loved watching the sunsets over Lake Michigan. For most of their married life, they spent their winters in Fort Myers, Florida. They loved spending time with their friends, going to the beach, eating Mexican food and enjoying margaritas. They especially loved having family and friends visit them in Florida,  where they could share their favorite activities and places. Lyn loved collecting seashells in Florida and rocks in Michigan. She often turned them into art and gave her creations as gifts to loved ones.

Lyn loved gardening and traveling, visiting 49 states throughout her lifetime. Lyn was very creative; she knitted afghans for each of her seven grandchildren and created many beautiful scrapbooks. She had a gift for hospitality, which she shared generously with family and friends throughout the years. She loved her grandchildren dearly, and one of her favorite throw pillows read, “My favorite people call me Nana.” Lyn loved hosting tea parties for her granddaughters and having them spend the night at her house every summer. This became a cherished tradition and created many special memories.

Lyn’s memorial service will be held on Friday, October 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Immanuel Church, 325 104th Ave, Holland, MI 49423. A time of fellowship with coffee and cookies will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Evergreen Commons, 480 State Street Holland, MI 49423; or Immanuel Church.