Norman Paul Lyzenga

On April 7, 2026, Norman “Norm” Paul Lyzenga peacefully went to join his Lord and Savior in glory surrounded by his family in Bangor, Michigan. Norm was born in Evangeline Home and Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 14, 1948, to Bernard Ralph and Tressa Mae (Oosterbaan) Lyzenga. He attended and graduated from Calvin Christian High School, Grandville, Michigan, in 1966. After high school, he enrolled at Grand Valley State College and received his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 1970. He furthered his education in Journalism and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa graduating in August 1972. He married his first wife, Gertrude (Trudy) Lindemulder, on August 21, 1971. They had five children together: Brett (Christina) Lyzenga, Nathan Lyzenga, Jessica Rodriquez, Tricia (Shannon) Scott, and Timothy (Carol) Lyzenga. Along with those children, he is survived by fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He got remarried on October 9, 1999 to his soulmate, Evelyn Fore. They were married at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Michigan. In doing so, she brought into the family two sons: Edward (Susan) Everett and Christopher Fore, along with fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They were married 26 ½ blissful years. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; his father, Bern Lyzenga; his brother, Thomas (Deborah) Lyzenga; sister Linda (David) Gritter; mother-in-law, Mary Gibbs; sister-in-laws Carolyn Schrotenboer and Helen (Craig) Zeerip along with aunts and uncles from both his mother’s and father’s side of the family and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was proceeded in death by his mother, Tressa Lyzenga; his grandparents on both the Lyzenga and Oosterbaan sides; his father-in-law, Ted Gibbs; his brother-in-law, Jack Schrotenboer, as of December 2025; a premature granddaughter, Margaret, and his first wife, Trudy Lyzenga who passed just recently. Norm wore many “hats” during his career. He worked in his chosen trade of journalism as a sports editor for a community newspaper before college; a reporter for the City News in Chicago after graduating from Grand Valley State College; a managing editor in Cherokee, Iowa after graduating from the University of Iowa; a reporter at The Times of Hammond, Indiana and an editor for the South Haven Tribune. After that, he opened a tax and bookkeeping business called “Quality Business Services” that he ran for an extended period of time. He led janitorial crews for the Holland Public Schools. Out of all the jobs that he had, he said the one that was most satisfying was his last, being a substitute teacher at an alternative education school, Holland High and Middle Schools, Allegan High School and the Allegan Area ESA Tech Center in Allegan, MI, right up until 2025. Norm loved trains, history, singing, enjoyed reading books and magazines, and each year being a state judge for the Michigan History Day contest of the Historical Society of Michigan. His funeral will be on April 23rd in the chapel at Central Wesleyan Church at 446 W. 40th Street, Holland, MI 49423, where Norm & Evie have served faithfully for 30 years--most recently as Greeters. Visitation will be 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, before the funeral, which will take place at 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Afterwards there will be a reception from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the multipurpose room, located by the chapel. The final resting place of his ashes will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Hamilton, MI during a private family service. Flowers or donations in his honor may be sent to Central Wesleyan Church, 446 W. 40th Street, Holland, MI 49423.

Norman Paul Lyzenga

May 14, 1948 - April 7, 2026