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Service Information

 Karen (Kaiser) Sytsma
Visitation: Saturday, May 16, from 4 to 6 PM.  Sunday, May 17, prior to the service, from 1 to 2 PM all at Stroo Funeral Home.
Service: 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 17, at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49508

Cemetery: Winchester

​Sytsma (Kaiser), Karen 7/19/1937 - 5/9/2026 

Karen Lavon Sytsma, age 88, of Byron Center, MI went to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, surrounded by her children late Saturday evening, May 9, 2026.  Karen couldn’t help not to make this world a little more colorful, whether it was twirling the baton, tending to her garden, decorating her home or making people laugh. She dearly loved her family and cherished the time with her grandkids. She was truly blessed to have lifelong friends and many adventures near and far. Karen will be dearly missed by the lives she touched, but we celebrate her entry into the next life as she is experiencing God's glory.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Stella Kaiser; her husband of 50 years, Edwin; brothers, Lawrence and Robert; sister, Elizabeth. She will be lovingly remembered by her children​, April (Steve) McCrumb and Ryan (Laura) Sytsma; grandchildren​, Marlo McCrumb, Caleb, Arie and Clive Sytsma; sisters and brothers​, Donna Thieme, Marcelene Dummond, Marvin Kaiser, Glenna Roberts; many nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 4 to 6 PM at Stroo Funeral Home.  A funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 2:00 PM with a one-hour visitation prior to the service from 1 – 2 PM.  Interment will be in Winchester Cemetery.  

"Well done good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:23.

 

STROO FUNERAL HOME
1095 68TH ST SE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49508 

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Sept22websiteStroo Funeral Home began operating in 1972 when John K. Stroo and his wife, Elaine, along with their young family moved to Cutlerville. With the experience that came from working in two Grand Rapids area funeral homes, John and Elaine desired a business of their own where they could provide personalized, compassionate service within a small town atmosphere.

Cutlerville provided the perfect place for this. The community did not have a funeral home, and its small town atmosphere appealed to the Stroo’s as a great place to raise their children and to become personally involved in the life of the church, school, and community.

Through the years the community has grown and expanded considerably. With that growth the funeral home continued to grow also, and additional facility space became necessary. In 1986, the chapel was enlarged and the entire facility was redecorated. In 1998, the Stroo family moved from their funeral home residence to a condominium. Shortly after that move the residence was converted into additional funeral home space and a large addition was made.

Along with the need for additional facility space, there was the need for additional staff members to serve the families who called upon Stroo Funeral Home. Mike Vos joined John as his first full time licensed funeral director in 1993, followed in 1999 by Laurie Beute as the first full time office administrator. Licensed funeral director Ken Speyer was added to the full time staff in 2000, followed by John and Elaine’s son, Bob Stroo, also a licensed funeral director, in 2002. Following years of steady growth, Amy Middendorf joined the staff as a prearrangement counselor in 2014. The funeral home is blessed to have a part-time support staff made up of several dedicated individuals who help out on a regular basis.

2018 brought an exciting change to Stroo Funeral Home. After 45 years of owning and managing the funeral home, John Stroo decided to take a lesser role and sold his portion of the business to Bob Stroo and Mike Vos, who now assume shared responsibility as the two co-owners of Stroo Funeral Home. They, along with all of the dedicated staff members, are committed to caring for the needs of each family they are privileged to serve with personalized, compassionate service.

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Founded in 1972 by John K. and Elaine Stroo, Stroo Funeral Home, Inc. has established a reputation for providing personalized, compassionate service offered at a reasonable price, a reputation that Bob Stroo and Mike Vos strive to maintain.

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