Ada Vlietstra

Vlietstra, Mrs. Ada
Kalamazoo Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ada Doorlag Vlietstra entered into eternal rest on January 6, 2012. Ada, named Eke at birth, was born in Kalamazoo on October 24, 1919, to Henry and Rikste Doorlag, immigrants from The Netherlands and was the second born of thirteen children. Ada was married on August 13, 1942 to Fred Vlietstra, who died in April of 1999 after they had been happily married for 56 years. She helped raise her youngest siblings, especially after their father passed away in 1944. As dairy farmers, Fred and Ada were inducted into the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame in 1989. Just like their parents, Fred and Ada made sure their children had a very firm foundation in their faith in God through Jesus Christ and she was very involved in church activities at Second Christian Reformed Church here in Kalamazoo. They always demonstrated and taught the value of hard work, integrity and charity. Ada was an excellent mother and a gracious giver of her hospitality to everyone with her meals, baked goods including the best raisin bread and babysitting. The vegetables planted by her husband were harvested and canned by her with help from her daughters and any others who were present. Besides her husband, Fred, Ada was preceded in death by her brothers: Elzo, Jerry, Harm and Henry, and recently, her sister, Hattie. She leaves behind her six children with their spouses: David & Ruth Vlietstra, Marvin & Mary Vlietstra, Ruth & Bill Longest, Lois & Terry Ailes, Fred & Mary Vlietstra, Jr. and Esther Vlietstra all of Kalamazoo. She also leaves 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with one more expected next month. Her surviving siblings are her sister, Alyce Bosma, and her brothers and their spouses: Garrett & Martina Doorlag, Dick & Marilyn Doorlag, Edward & Pat Doorlag, Jim & Ruth Doorlag, John & Karen Doorlag, and Bob & Judy Doorlag all of Kalamazoo. Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 PM Tuesday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. Private graveside services will be held in Mount Ever Rest Memorial Park, South. A memorial service will be held 11:00 Wednesday morning at Second Christian Reformed Church, with Rev. Dr. Warren E. Lammers, officiating. Memorials should be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Second Christian Reformed Church. Ada's family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Ada's pastor, Rev. Dr. Warren E. Lammers and Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan who were a great inspiration and source of comfort to Ada and her family.