Shirley went to her heavenly home early Sunday morning, November 30, 2025, at the age
of 95. Besides her own parents, she is predeceased by her husband Alvin, brother Carl
(Shirley Postma), son Stan, and Stan's wife Debbie (Vermeulen). Shirley is survived by her
sister, Merle VandeLune, two children Roland (Lisseth Jordan) and Miriam (Keith Hinkle),
twelve grandchildren (including three foster grandchildren) 1, and thirty-four great-
grandchildren (including five foster great grandchildren).

Born at home to Fred and Anna Vander Schaaf on January 27, 1930, Shirley was the
eldest of three children. Arriving at the outset of the Great Depression, Shirley was
welcomed into the hard-working Dutch immigrant farming community of Peoria, Iowa, a
community dedicated to God, church, family, and each other. Shirley was soon joined in
the family by her two siblings, Carl and Merle.

Shirley attended Peoria Christian School through 8th grade, but at graduation wasn't sure
she would go to high school. She wanted to, but the nearest high school was in Pella, nine
miles away, and most people in Peoria at that time weren't sure that girls even needed
more than primary school. Providentially, Shirley's dad landed a new job in Pella, thus
allowing her to attend Pella Christian High School.

Shirley did fine in school, but her major accomplishments in her teenage years were
learning, mostly on her own, how to sew and how to play the piano. Anyone who has seen
her craftsmanship or heard her music would likely say that she was gifted at both. While in
high school, Shirley began making her own clothes and playing piano for chapel and the
organ for area churches.

At graduation, unlike many of her female classmates, Shirley was not yet planning to
marry, so she looked for work. She tried a secretarial job at Rolscreen (the home of Pella
Windows), and then, after some summer courses, began a two-year stint teaching
elementary school in Oskaloosa.

One day a young man showed up on her front step and introduced himself as Al
Hoksbergen. Al was a year ahead of her in school, and their paths had crossed, but there
had been no sparks. Now, however, she consented to dating him and thus began a two-
year courtship. They were married in September 1950, shortly before Al was drafted to
serve in Korea for a full year as an army secretary. While in Korea, Al heard God's call to
become a pastor, a huge surprise to Shirley, but she jumped in feet-first and faithfully
supported her pastor husband for the next sixty years.

When Al returned from Korea, Shirley introduced him to his one-year-old son, Stan.
Roland showed up almost exactly nine months later. In 1953 the young family moved to
Grand Rapids, where Al studied to be a pastor. Shirley played her part by taking care of
the boys and newborn daughter Miriam, who joined the family in 1956.

A theology scholarship for Al took the family across the ocean to Amsterdam for sixteen
months of study. Returning in 1960, Al and Shirley served in Christian Reformed churches
in Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Ferrysburg until retirement in 1994.

It is easy to list and admire Shirley's accomplishments during those years. She played the
organ for worship services, sang a strong alto in the church choir, brought food to families
in need, and added beauty to craft shows with her afghans, braided rugs, couch pillows,
table runners, and baby clutch balls. While she enjoyed all these activities immensely over
several decades, her greatest joys were her children, grandchildren, and great grands.
She always responded to their needs with good cheer and a helpful spirit. As the trials of
age crept up, she loved nothing more than to hear stories of the amazing things her
progeny accomplished, the wise and wonderful things they said, or to listen to their ever-
expanding musical repertoire.

After Al passed on in 2014, she lived in her apartment at Freedom Village in Holland,
Michigan. Her abilities to sew and to play keyboard instruments waned in her 80s and 90s,
but she continued to love visits from family and friends, checking Facebook posts,
attending Sunday afternoon vespers services at Freedom Village, and joining online
services of several other churches. When she could no longer sew, she took to writing
heartfelt letters, right up to the very end. It is no surprise that so many people loved
Shirley, because for so many years she had loved them.

When Roland wrote a book about Shirley in 2017, the title they chose was It Never Rained
on the Fourth of July. That's how she remembered one of her favorite annual childhood
events, and it captures her optimistic, sunny spirit. Who knows, maybe it did rain on some
of those holiday picnics, but that's not what she remembered. That was simply not how
she approached life. Just as she lived her own life, so too did she encourage others to
embrace their blessings and resist dwelling on their burdens. When someone was feeling
down and wished for a tough time just to be over, she would often say, "well, don't wish
your life away." Shirley greatly enjoyed the life God gave her. She approached life and
everyone around her with joy and love, and those of us touched by her generosity and
optimism are so much the better for it.

The family is planning a memorial service for June 20, 2026 at Beechwood Reformed
Church in Holland, Michigan. Visitation at 3:00 pm, Service at 4:00 pm, Picnic at 5:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Shirley's memory to either of the following
organizations, both active in the Ferrysburg community:
1. Humanity for Prisoners —  https://www.humanityforprisoners.org/,  (616) 935-0075
2. Love in Action —  https://loveinactiontricities.org/,  616.846.2701

1 Born to Stan and Debbie: Ross (Rumyana), Alden (Mary), and Mieke (Aaron Mutschler). Born to Roland
and Lisseth: Laura Maria (Michael Bultman) and JuanDavid. Born to Miriam and Keith: Kayle (Angie),
Cody (Sarah), Kristen (Nick Bartlett), and Casey (Tim Ofield). Foster grandchildren are Esther Khim
(Desmond), Siang Hnem (Thang Pu), and Esther Mawi (Ceu Te).