Gerrit Douma

Gerrit Douma of Charlotte went to be with his Heavenly Father on September 2, at the age of 84. He was born on June 12, 1930, in Randolph, Wisconsin, the fourth of nine children to Dewey A. and Martha (Alsum) Douma. Gerrit was a probation/parole officer for Eaton and Barry Counties for 25 years, retiring in 1984. Throughout those years, Gerrit also maintained ties to his rural upbringing by working every Saturday on the John Lich farm in Sunfield, Michigan. He also recognized the importance of civic responsibility by serving on the Charlotte School Board for several years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The years that followed his first retirement saw him fulfilling his true passions: Traveling and outdoor work. He made 25+ trips to Alaska, many of which were as a convoy leader to deliver school buses to Alaskan communities. Special Alaskan trips included his first one with his son, Tom, in the 1970s, and two trips 30 years later with his grandsons. He also crisscrossed the country for Spartan Motors for many years, delivering and picking up fire trucks and motor homes. When he wasn’t on the road, he could often be seen mowing grass, plowing snow, and rototilling gardens all around the Charlotte area. Gerrit loved his family, and he loved his church. He and his wife, Margery, were founding members of the Charlotte Christian Reformed Church, where Gerrit was an active member since the early 1960s until his death. He also loved his country and proudly served in the US Army at Ft. Knox, KY and Ft. Benning, GA, from 1954 to 1956. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margery (Holwerda). Surviving are his children, Susan Taylor (David), Thomas Douma (Mary), Karen Domres (Fritz), Patricia Christian (David); his grandchildren, Anna Doyle (Matt), Andrew Domres, David Douma (Lauren), Tyler Domres, Kari D’Amico (Frank), Thomas Dixon, James Christian, Timothy Dixon, and Luke Douma; and his great-grandchildren, Emma D’Amico, Amber D’Amico, and Lennon Doyle. His siblings include Auke Douma-deceased (Evelyn), Dorothy Schaalma (John-deceased), Theresa Posthuma (Carl-deceased), Clarence Douma (Shirley), Alice Hoffman (Melvin), Bessie De Jager (Lambert), Andrew Douma (Tess), and Harvey Douma. His extended family includes in-laws George “Bob” Holwerda-deceased (Jennie “Sally”-deceased; Christine-deceased), Gertrude Swaagman-deceased (Matthew-deceased), Wilma “Billie” Horwood (Ross-deceased), Harvey Holwerda-deceased (Theresa-deceased), Matthew Holwerda (Joyce), and his many nieces and nephews.Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care (http://www.echospice.org/) or to the Charlotte Christian Reformed Church. Visitation will be held at Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte, on Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 5, at 11:00 a.m. at Burkhead-Green, with internment immediately following at Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.