Jean Louella (Hoesing) Perkins

Jean Louella Perkins, age 79, of Grand Haven, MI, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Trinity Health Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. She was born on February 19, 1946, in Battle Creek, MI, to the late Julius and Alverda (Tigges) Hoesing. Jean married Ronald W. Perkins on January 2, 1968, in Battle Creek, MI.

Jean attended St. Philip Catholic School in Battle Creek until the 8th grade, and then graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Omaha, Nebraska. She later attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Lansing Community College, where she studied history and art. She lived in Midland, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing, MI, Merrillville, IN, and Owing Mills, MD before retiring to Grand Haven, MI.

Jean owned and operated Heirloom Creations where she did ceramics and painting, wedding catering, clothing alterations, flower arranging, and interior design. She was very artistic and worked as a self-employed artist for most of her working life, having worked a variety of jobs beforehand including as a hospital OB technician, working for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co., Douglas County Health Dept., working with migrant children at Lansing Public School District, and as bank teller in Battle Creek and Ann Arbor.

Jean was a member of St. Patrick Church of St. Patrick - St. Anthony Parish. She sang with church choirs at St. Steven the Martyr Church and St. Joan of Arc Church, as well as in the Diocesan Chorale. She also served as Eucharistic minister at St. John's Student Parish in East Lansing, MI.

She was active in her community and did not sit idly by. Jean was the establisher and Queen of the Shades of Scarlett Chapter of the Red Hat Society, formerly serving as a Girl Scout Leader, and was active in the ARCS (Active Retired Christian Seniors).

Jean enjoyed political activism, working on puzzles, studying ornithology, photography, and arts and crafts, including: painting, ceramics, Macramé, reading, and decoupage. She supported the arts, purchasing many paintings and other art works, and especially encouraging her daughters, a daughter's boyfriend, and a grandson in their artistry.

Jean was an avid collector of Seraphim Angels, tea and table sets, political buttons, jewelry, and dish sets. She especially loved: Queen Anne furniture, pale yellow colors, Lily of the Valley flowers, decorating for the holidays, cooking and baking, and she also hand-made daisy kingdom dresses and baptism gowns.

Jean was a loving, caring mother and wife who made friends easily and was most known for having a very quick intellect and wit, having a great sense of humor, and being adventurous and outgoing. She enjoyed being outdoors and going camping, going on color and waterfall tours in the Upper Peninsula, horses and barrel racing. Jean was also incredibly dedicated to her grandchildren, whom she loved very much.

Jean will be lovingly remembered and missed by her beloved husband of 57 years, Ron; and their two daughters, Michelle "Kiki" (Brian) Thewes of Valparaiso, IN, and Kristin (Julio) Benitez of Alma, MI; eight grandchildren: Natasha "Tudor" (Jeff) Nightingale of Independence, MO, Nicholas "Nichy" (Jessica) Thewes of Twin Lake, MI, Cassandra "Cassie" (Leo) Freds-Cardoso of Fenton, MI, Alexander (Jillian) Freds of Petoskey, MI, Matthew (Jessi) Bailey of Monroe, MI, Jacob (Bea) Bailey of Holland, MI, Meredith "Merry" Bailey of Murray, KY, and Ethan Bailey of Houghton, MI; step-grandchildren: Jorge (Evie) Benitez of Holland, MI, Anna Benitez of Grand Rapids, MI, and Mara Benitez of Denver, CO; eight great-grandchildren: Oslo, Anderson, Diego, Olivia, Kaden, Riley, Miles, and Troy; sisters: Janet Hall of LaCross, WI, Joy (Brian) Ahlquist of Sugarland, TX, June (Jack) Carlile of Lincoln, NE, Joletta Hoesing of Omaha, NE, Jerri Fisher of Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law, Pat Hoesing of Battle Creek, MI, Gayle Coulter of Wilmington, NC, Debbie Perkins and Cheri Perkins both of Battle Creek, MI, Kathy (Duane) Philips of Kalamazoo, MI; and brothers-in-law: Roy (Brenda) Perkins of Battle Creek, MI, Rick (Karen) Perkins of Grand Blanc, MI, and Rob (Linda) Perkins of Kalamazoo, MI; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Caroline Angela Perkins; great-granddaughter, Lydia Michelle Culver; brother, Jim Hoesing; sisters and brothers-in-law: Judy and Bill Sage, Joan and Len Neitzel, Jacque and Darryl Rattenborg; and brother-in-law, Mike Perkins.

The Funeral Mass for Jean will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at St. Patrick Church of St. Patrick - St. Anthony Parish, with Fr. Dan Schumaker officiating. Visitations will be held at the church on Friday, August 22nd, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., as well as one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial Contributions may be made to National Kidney Foundation or a charitable conservation organization of your choice.

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