Irene Mae Wiersma passed away peacefully in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 26, 2024 at the age of 95. Irene was born on August 21,1929 in Grand Rapids to Rev. John and Bertha (Mouw) Hanenburg. She was the oldest of seven children: Joan (Bill) Braaksma, Jim (Reta) Hanenburg, Ted (Netty) Hanenburg, Rich Hanenburg, Cathie (Cecil) Holtrop, and Roberta Hanenburg. She spent her youth in Rudyard, Michigan; Harrison, South Dakota; and Hull, Iowa. All towns where her father served as pastor. She attended Western Christian High School in Hull, where she met her future husband, Stanley Wiersma. They both attended Calvin College and later married. Irene worked tirelessly in the Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids as well as for Calvin Church. She was also an excellent cook and created meals for the many students and staff members of Calvin College that Stanley would bring home unannounced for dinner. Stanley died in the Netherlands on June 22, 1986.

Irene is survived by her sons Samuel (Lori) and Robert (Rachelle) along with five granddaughters: Sietzka, Leah, Naomi, Lexy (Andrew) Kraayenbrink, and Erica (Cory) Kats. She also has two step grandchildren: Ben and Sam Van Der Heide. She has three great-grandchildren: Collin Kats, Holland Kraayenbrink, and William Riley. Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters as well as Rich Hanenburg.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm Thursday, December 5, at Calvin Christian Reformed Church 700 Ethel Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49506. A small reception will be held after the service. Memorial may be given to the Clark Foundation (https://clarkretirement.org/clark-foundation/).