Bertha Poot

POOT, Bertha
of Kalamazoo, Michigan Bertha Noordam Poot went to be with her heavenly Father on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at the age of 98. Bertha was born in Rozenburg, The Netherlands, October 14, 1913. Bertha was united in marriage to James Poot in The Netherlands, October 21, 1942. James and Bertha immigrated to the United States in 1956 with their five children and settled in Kalamazoo, MI. Bertha is survived by four children, Coby Andy Mast, Abraham Colleen Poot, Jenny Evans, Wilma Richard Wahl and a son-in-law Bill West. Bertha is also survived by her sister, Wilma Meinema, 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Bertha was predeceased by four siblings; husband, James, in 1990; and daughter, Joann West, in 2010. Bertha was an active member of Grace Christian Reformed Church. She could often be found working beside her husband, Jim, in their shoe repair business, Jim's Shoe Service, on Burdick Street. Bertha was also an active and longtime volunteer with the Kalamazoo Deacon's Conference of the Christian Reformed Church; she was honored with a Silver Bowl Award in recognition of her long and dedicated years of faithful service. Bertha filled her life with family, flowers, gardening, knitting, baking, sewing and crocheting, and could beat her entire family at shuffleboard. She was always busy and enjoyed projects and people with equal happiness. For the past nine years Bertha happily resided at Park Village Pines. Services and celebration of life will be held on Monday at 1:30 PM in the Grace Christian Reformed Church, 1724 Whites Road, with Rev. Dr. Harry Arnold, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel 3926 S. 9th St. on Sunday from 2-5 PM .Memorials, in Bertha's name, may be made to Grace Christian Reformed Church or Park Village Pines.