Gayla Fern (Kortman) Holwerda of Grand Rapids, Michigan, died June 26th, 2026. She was born to Henry and Nellie Kortman on the 28th of January ,1933, the second of seven children.

Being the big sister to so many, Gayla learned quickly to care for others. She loved children. She began her career teaching and continued to direct her care and creativity toward her four daughters, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the children in her community. Her basement was a favorite in the neighborhood, stocked with fabulous dress-up clothes and with shelves full of treasures to rival a Montessori classroom; for a time, she was lovingly referred to as "Grandma Teepee." Gayla prayed for her grandchildren daily. Her hope was that each one would know Jesus loved them.

Gayla also expressed her care for others via the kitchen, often spending Sundays graciously hosting relatives, church friends, visitors and students who were far from home; she often packed them off with an additional meal or two for the week ahead. For years she spent Wednesdays in the church kitchen, preparing a midweek meal for her church family and the neighbors of Bates Street Church, a community she loved and cared for over decades, where she not only cooked, but sang, found fellowship, and built lifelong friendships.

Gayla cultivated and appreciated beauty, not only on a plate, but in her gardens, in her sewing and quilting, in music, in the great writers she read until the week she died -- just finished a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel.

Gayla lived her life in loving partnership with her husband, David, for over 67 years. In their last years together, they expended much of their time and energy providing direct and daily care for each other, alleviating the other's suffering, patiently enduring together the realities of losing hearing, mobility, memory, and doing so in a way that demonstrated the depth of their lifelong love. We rejoice that the time of suffering is over, and she is now in the hands of God, who will make everything new.

She will be lovingly remembered by her siblings and in-laws, Harry and Joanne Holwerda, Norma Bratt, Trudy and Cornie VanTol, Phyllis Kortman, Meribeth LeFebre and Daniel Wolma, Karla Laninga; her children and grandchildren, Marigay and Greg McClune (Geoff and Liz McClune, Chris and Emily McClune), Faith and Carl Triemstra (Rachel and Brian Bardolph, Justin and Rachel Triemstra), Sondra and Tom Minnema (David and Charlotte Minnema, Ben and Betty Minnema, Anna and Brennan Boice), Lynn and Mark van Stee (Elena van Stee, Adrian van Stee, and Amelia van Stee); great grandchildren, Natalie, Annie, and Molly McClune, Clara, Lucas, and Calvin Bardolph, Peter and Emma Triemstra, Teddy Boice, Tommy, Jocelyn, Eloise, and Addie Minnema; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband David Holwerda; brothers Howard and Curt Kortman; in-laws Judy Kortman, Roger Laninga, Don LeFebre, Don Bratt, Peter, Jack, George and Evelyn, Bob and Joyce Holwerda, Pearl and Roger Harrison; and her grandson Timothy McClune.

The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Friends and family are welcome to meet the family before the service at 1:00 pm. The service begins at 2:00 pm with light refreshments following.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the gracious staff at Breton Rehabilitation and Living Center and the generous friends at First CRC who so faithfully cared for our mom.

Those who wish can make a contribution to the David and Gayla Holwerda Scholarship in Biblical Studies at Calvin Theological Seminary, 3233 Burton SE, Grand Rapids Michigan, 49546.