Clare VanderLaan-Goodyke

On March 12, 2024, Clare “CG” VanderLaan-Goodyke passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior. Clare was born and raised on a farm in Platte, South Dakota, with her five siblings. She graduated from Dakota High and moved to Michigan, where she attended Calvin College and received her Bachelors in education. Clare then taught at Holland Christian and met her first husband, William “Bill” Goodyke. Together they had two children, Randy and Rhonda Goodyke. The family owned two Frosty Twist ice cream parlors, where they all worked on the weekends. Her husband Bill passed away suddenly at the young age of 39. She never backed down from challenges and continued to work hard to support her family. She worked full-time at Godwin Plumbing for many years before taking a job at the Davenport College Career Center, where she met her second husband, Roger VanderLaan. In 1994, Clare lost her daughter, Rhonda, due to surgical complications and she carried this grief daily. On September 30, 2022, Roger VanderLaan, the second love of her life, passed into Glory. Through all life events, both joyful and difficult, Clare leaned on her hope in Jesus and served as an example to others. Clare loved being with family, music, travel, and volunteering. In her earlier years, she and Bill formed a gospel music group “The Sounds of True Freedom” and cut a record! She always loved to sing gospel songs, and did so right up to her last day. She and Roger spent years traveling in search of sunshine. CG had a servant’s heart, dedicating any spare time to Family Promise, Spectrum Health, and the Princeton Funeral Lunch Team. Above all, Clare enjoyed being with her family and was the most proud grandma. She loved cheering for her grandchildren at all of their sporting events, hosting holidays, and taking family trips to Mexico. She met her most recent great-granddaughter (born March 6) two days before Clare’s passing, where she smiled and repeated “Love you”.

Clare will be remembered for her glitz and glam style, hard work ethic, and desire to live for Christ. Clare is survived by her son, Randall Goodyke (Brenda); step daughters; Susan Nutter (Dale) and Christie VanderLaan (Andrew Braun); son-in-law, Robert Hoorn (Lori); grandchildren, Amanda Damon (Christian), Austin Goodyke (Madison), Amber Brushwyler (Taylor), Camille Hoorn, Jarred Hoorn (Brittney), Isaac Nutter, Emily Nutter, Max Braun, and her great-grandchildren, Philip, Booker, Conrad, Clara, and Josie; siblings, Sherman Visscher (Lois), Albertha Swets (Walter), Elmer Visscher (Judy); sisters-in-law, Marcia Oldebekking (Russell), Carol Achterhof (Jim); several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 18, at 11 a.m. at Princeton Christian Reformed Church, 5330 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood, with Pastor Steve Hull officiating. The burial will take place at Winchester Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Sunday, March 17, from 3-6 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Family Promise of Grand Rapids.

The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed via this link https://youtube.com/live/-OXYXMEJ33E