Visitation: Thursday, September 14, from 10 - 11 am at Byron Center Bible Church followed by the service at 11 am
Service: 11 am Thursday, September 14, at Byron Center Bible Church, 8855 Byron Center Ave. SW
Cemetery: Winchester
Memorials: Wycliff Bible Translators, https://wycliffe.org/donate

 or Byron Center Bible Church, 8855 Byron Center Ave. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 https://www.byronbible.org/

Christine (Chris) Broersma departed this earthly life, at age 92, and entered her heavenly home as a redeemed child of Jesus Christ, her Savior, on September 07, 2023, at the Rivertown Ridge Memory Care facility in Grandville, MI. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and even great, great grandmother who will be greatly missed!

She was born August 31, 1931, in Byron Center, Michigan. She was the 5^th of seven sisters born to Thiel and Mary Mattie Berkenpas.  She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings: Frances (Frank) Visser, Jennie (Gerrit) DeHaan, Agnes (Gerrit) Goorhouse, Rena (Edward) Evers, Louise (William) Evers, and Joyce (Thomas) Evers. Chris was the last remaining sibling in her immediate family.

After 10 years of schooling, Chris met and married Marvin Broersma and they had seven boys: Jerry (Annette) Broersma, Rog (Margaret) Broersma, David (Susan) Broersma, Richard (Dottie) Broersma, Steven (Beth) Broersma, Marlin (Karla) Broersma, and Terry (Vickie) Broersma.  These children were born in Washington State, Michigan, Washington State, California, and Washington State.  The family finally moved back to West Michigan in 1969 and this became home for most of the family for many years. During these years the children were married and produced 20 grandchildren for Chris and Marv. These grandchildren have since produced 36 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild!  Chris and Marv were married in 1950 and celebrated their 72^nd wedding anniversary on September 15, 2022. It seems they tenaciously stuck with their wedding vows and produced an abundance of offspring!

Chris was working for Hekman Bakery when she met Marv.  After they were married, they moved to Washington State, and she settled down to homemaking as the children came along. As the family grew, she kept busy with various activities with the kids schooling, and summer field labor with the kids, and even watching migrant children for a time so their parents could labor in the berry and bean fields as well. When the family of nine finally moved back to Byron Center, Michigan, in 1969, Marv and Chris took over janitorial responsibilities at Second Byron CRC for several years. Chris and some of the kids routinely worked at the church after school during the week. She also found time to go back to school to earn her GED!

After Marv formally retired, he and Chris spent about 20 years doing volunteer work in various places with the CRWRC and later with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Catalina, AZ, he as construction manager. During that time Chris worked with proficiency in the furniture department meticulously and quietly reupholstering various pieces of furniture as needed.

Marv and Chris were committed Christians and were members of the Christian Reformed Church throughout most of their lives.  In their later years they attended Bible churches and became members at Byron Center Bible Church. The last couple of years since COVID, they have not been able to attend due to declining health and they greatly missed the fellowship they had enjoyed so much.

A visitation will be held at Byron Center Bible Church on September 14 at 10am., with a funeral service following at 11am. Interment will immediately follow the service at Winchester Cemetery on 76^th Street in Byron Township and a lunch following will be provided at Byron Center Bible Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Wycliffe Bible Translators (www.wycliffe.org) or Byron Center Bible Church (8855 Byron Center Ave SW, Byron Center, MI 49315; www.byronbible.org).