Catherine M. Koepke-Block

Catherine M. Koepke-Block, age 89, of Shelby, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018.  She was born June 13, 1928 in Walker Township, Kent County to Richard and Tena (Hamstra) Kiestra.

Catherine was raised in the Grand Rapids area.  She married Benjamin Koepke who preceded her in death and later married Merle Block who also preceded her in death.  She lived in seventeen different locations during her two marriages.  Over a period of 6 years, Catherine took in thirty-six new born foster babies. She adopted two foster children, her sons, James and Richard.   Catherine enjoyed hiking, cooking, camping and volunteering with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Love, INC and Camp Au Sable. Over her lifetime her career took many turns starting out as a nurse, followed by bookkeeping, hardware store manager and ended as a career counselor at Eastern Kentucky University.

She is survived by her children, Suzanne (Louis) Hazlett, Sandy (Tom) Hazlett, James Koepke and Richard "Andy" (Nancy) Koepke; stepchildren, Cathy Vredevoogd and Daniel (Marilyn) Block; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Besides her husbands, Benjamin and Merle, she was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Richard Kiestra and Russell Wright.

Visitation is Tuesday, May 22nd, 10 am until the funeral service at 11 am at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby.  Interment will be in Hubbard Cemetery, Montague.  Memorials to Camp Au Sable are appreciated
 

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