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Margie “Marj” Lynne Meyer, age 79 of Spring Lake, passed away the morning of Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at home. She was born on January 5, 1943 in Sturgis, MI, the daughter of Edward and Waneta (Lantz) Otto.
Margie graduated from Sturgis High School, Class of 1961. She was an exchange student her senior year of high school and spent a summer with a German family in West Berlin. Marge entered East Germany (Russian Sector) on the back of a scooter driven by the son of her host family. They avoided the American border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie, and entered via a locally known route to visit an aunt one last time. She showed them a radio hidden in a closet on which Radio Free Europe was listened to in secret. The Berlin Wall, constructed to seal the border between East and West Germany, was erected that summer and would divide the city for 28 years.
In 1965, Marj graduated with a BA from Hope College. She was a member of Phi Alpha Theta Sorority and the National Honor Society in History, the Gamma-Omicron Chapter. She was a member of the Hope Chapel Choir under Mr. Robert Cavenaugh. In addition to performances in Dimnent Memorial Chapel, the choir travelled throughout the Midwest, giving performances. She continued her education at Western Michigan University and earned a Master’s degree in education.
Margie began her 15 year career as a teacher of History and English in Vicksburg, Michigan. She married Jack Meyer in Kalamazoo on June 8, 1968 and they would celebrate 53 years of marriage. The couple moved to Chicago for his medical schooling and she taught at Jack Benny High School in Waukegan, Illinois. They moved to Knoxville, Tennessee for Jack’s medical residency, and it was there that she taught young minds in a private school called Tate’s School of Discovery. Marj made the transition from educator to medical assistant/office manager and organized Jack’s podiatry offices in Grand Haven and Muskegon for 35 years.
Music was a very important part of Margie’s life, and she began singing and playing the church organ in high school. Marj was an interim organist in the Vicksburg Methodist Church during her tenured teaching career. She performed as a soloist and organist at many weddings. When she and Jack moved to the Tri-Cities area, she was one of the original members in the Grand Haven Chamber Choir, later the Camarata Singers. Marj sang soprano for 25 years with Conductor, Floyd Farmer. The group performed at several church venues in Muskegon, Grand Haven, as well as for the Grand Rapids Opera, and West Shore Symphony.
Marj loved to travel. She and a college roommate toured Europe beginning in Amsterdam and ending in Italy. Marj had to do all the driving during their two week adventure because her friend couldn’t drive a stick shift. Later in life, she visited Ireland and Scotland with her family. Marj and Jack spent a wonderful month in Pattaya, Thailand visiting their son, Jason, and his family. In 2018, her entire family enjoyed a Hawaiian cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. A time capsule buried on the Isle Royale, MI in 1989 awaits the return of family members.
Margie was active in the community and served as treasurer of auxiliaries at North Ottawa Community Hospital and Mercy Hospital, raising funds for specialized hospital equipment. She also worked as a volunteer in Mercy’s gift shop for many years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake and a member of its Library Guild as well. Since 1982, she has been a member of the Spring Lake Country Club and past member of the nine-hole golf league where she served a stint as treasurer. In retirement, she cherished her role as “Nana” and cared for her grandchildren from birth to school age twice a week.
Everyone who knew her will carry her memory with love in their hearts.
Surviving and thankful for the loving presence Margie brought to their lives are her loving husband of 53 years, Jack; their two sons, Jason (Erica) Meyer of Spring Lake and Mike (Kelli) Meyer of Grand Haven; grandchildren, Dyllan, Carter, and Avalyn; sister, Sharon Kohn of Roselle, IL; brothers-in-law, Ed (Judy) Meyer, Jim (Terrie) Meyer, Mick (Carol) Meyer; and several nieces and nephews. She will also be remembered by hundreds of first and second Amish and Mennonite cousins in Indiana and Illinois.
Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Waneta Otto; and brothers-in-law, Bill (Ev) Meyer and Dave Kohn.
The Memorial Mass for Margie will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Fr. Norm Droski officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Klaassen Family Funeral Home. Interment will be at Spring Lake Township Cemetery.
For those unable to attend the service, it will be live streamed. Please view by clicking here: https://youtu.be/4Os8gXhyuf0
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be made to the Jack and Marj Meyer Family Fund C/O G.H.A.C.F.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margie “Marj” Lynne (Otto) Meyer, please visit our floral store.
Jack and Marj Meyer Family Fund c/o G.H.A.C.F.
6 Sherman Ave., Grand Haven MI 49417
Tel: 1-616-842-6378
Email: info@ghacf.org
Web: https://ghacf.org/