Irene Buitenhuis Kuyten, 77 years old, went to be with her heavenly Father on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Irene was born in Nuth, Netherlands on April 29, 1945, into a Christian family as the daughter of Pieter and Arina Buitenhuis and the younger sister of Bill. Soon she would be joined by younger brother Casey and younger sister Clara. On March 30, 1951, at the age of six, the family set sail on the Veendam for the United States. They arrived on April 14, 1951, at the land of the free.  She would soon be joined by younger sisters Nellie and Alice. Home Acres Reformed Church became an important house of worship where she grew up in the faith, professed her faith and married Richard Fenske.

Irene obtained her Associates Degree in Child Development from Grand Rapids Community College. Irene’s biggest joy was being a stay-at-home mom.  She would have done anything for her children and loved them so deeply.  She instilled how important it was to be a mother.  Later as a childcare provider, she would often express how much she wanted to have an impact of love upon the children she cared for. 

Irene and Richard raised four children in the faith; Kimberly Sue, Michelle Dawn, Steven Troy and Jeffery Pak. Adored by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she had a circle of love surrounding her.

Her children will tell you how all of their friends loved her and wanted to come to their house and hang out with her in the kitchen where Irene was a part of the conversation with much laughter and joy and an occasional ballet stretch.  

Irene’s siblings will tell you how Irene was the “Martha Stewart of the family” maintaining such a clean home and preparing such great meals. She was very artistic doing many different things like country painting, bread dough, and ceramics. 

Irene was so proud of her Dutch heritage and maintained relationships with her family across the “pond,” speaking Dutch, and passing on many Dutch traditions.  

Irene was preceded in death by her parents Pieter and Arina Buitenhuis and brother Bill Buitenhuis. 

Surviving are her children, Kimberly and Rev. Mark Hofstra of Paw Paw, MI, Michelle and Dr. Brian Boscaljon of Erie, PA, Steven Fenske of Grand Haven, MI, and Jeff Moss of Clearwater, FL; grandchildren, Jonathan and Claire Boscaljon, Michaela and Todd Hodinko, Jessica Boscaljon, Joshua and Riley Boscaljon, Serea Boscaljon, Alisha and Barry DeYoung, Pieter Hofstra, Hannah and Austin Ogrin, Pipo Hofstra, Isabella Hofstra; great-grandchildren, Richard, Madeline, Eloise, Sienna, Melody, Hezekiah, and Malakai; brother, Casey and Wendy Buitenhuis, sisters, Clara and Bruce Brown, Nellie and Scott Johnson, and Alice and Rocky Cooper.

Visitation will be 1:00-3:00 pm immediately followed by the funeral service at 3 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Home Acres Reformed Church, 21 Murray St SE, Kentwood, MI with Rev. Mark Hofstra officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI.