All Obituaries

Mary Lynne Westmaas Dracht, age 82, of Marion, Michigan, went to glory on April 16, 2024, joining her beloved husband, William Dracht. Embodying Christ’s love to her family and those she encountered in very practical ways, Mary taught her children what was important in life by living it. She was a vibrant and generous woman who lived life to the fullest—volunteering, traveling, golfing, and staying connected to her children and grandchildren. Mary was loved by many but especially by her seven surviving children and their spouses: Ed and Brenda Dracht, Erin Heuker, Alyssa and Steve Raterink, Krista and Mike DeMaster, Steven and Betsy Dracht, Philip and Heather Dracht, Laura and Tim Pegman; 23 greatly loved grandchildren and 7 wonderful great grandchildren: Devon and Hillary Dracht with Bentley, June, and Jolene; Kelsey and Kevin Halliburton with Jake, Max, Kendall, and Mila; Melanie, Ben, Abby, and Nick Heuker; Hope, Isabelle, Marielle and Alexis Raterink; Maxwell, Katherine, and Lily DeMaster; Noel and Elliott Dracht; Elijah, Amelia, and Willem Dracht; and Ezra, August, and Arie Pegman. Surviving her are siblings Gayle and Dick Dracht-Glass, Char and Tom Glass, Jan and Tom Jasperse, Lin and Jay Rillema, and Kent and Deb Westmaas and sister-in-law, Nonie Dracht. She was preceded in death by a stillborn baby, Bill, her parents, William and Jeanette Westmaas, Edd and Winnie Dracht, son-in-law Douglas Heuker; and inlaws: Tom Dracht, Gerrit and Kay Meekhof, Jess and Eleanor Heeringa, Jay and Marie Brinks, and Fred and Wilma Draisma, Gene and Nelle Berens, and John Dracht. Mary was a loving, non-judgmental, nurturing, and supportive matriarch, mother, and grandmother. While it was not easy to have 7 children ranging 18 years in age, Mary made it look easy—cooking, baking bread, cleaning, and volunteering while also attending all of her children’s sporting events and appointments. “I asked the Lord for patience and he gave me seven children,” she would quip. She carried that on as a grandmother, traveling to Grand Rapids weekly to care for grandchildren for years, making frequent visits to California to help her kids and grandkids there, Facetime and calling her grandkids frequently and offering help when needed. Be it mending or home-repair, she tried her best to make her family feel special and loved. Her table expanded to fit both family and friends, and it usually overflowed with delicious cinnamon rolls, bread, cookies, and pies. Mary was also intentional in showing love to others. She sent birthday cards to hundreds of people every single year. When asked why, she said that there might be someone who wouldn’t get any other cards, and she wanted them to know their birthday was remembered and special. Mary gave generously of her time and money to many causes, especially World Renew Disaster Relief Services, where she and Bill spent many hours rebuilding homes that had been affected by disaster, and even biked across the United States in 2005 with Sea to Sea to raise money for World Renew. Known as the drywall “grand mudder” on the jobsite, Mary worked hard and would get dirty. At her last project rehabbing a hurricane damaged house in Florida in January (after having both knees replaced) she admitted “I’ve had days where I think this will be my last time out but then everyone around me gives me encouragement. Guess I’ll have to wait and see.” She was eighty-two years young. She had a strong sense of civic duty and community too. Every election year, she could be found working at the local polls. She also invested her love in the Highland CRC family and Northern Michigan Christian School, showing up in whatever ways were needed, from nursery to school board. Age didn’t slow her down. From Nepal to Machu Picchu, she loved traveling to sight-see, visit family, and volunteer. But every July she relaxed (between work bees and feeding her enormous family) at the cottage, hosting all her children and grandchildren for a week of loving chaos. She recorded her life diligently with journals and pictures. In her 80’s she decided to slow down a little and take up golfing. Characteristically, she developed a passion for it and was always up for a match or to go to the driving range to work on her swing. Mary Dracht was a woman who touched the lives of all those around her. Her life of love and service is an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be missed deeply by her family, her friends, and people all across the world. Visitation will be held at Highland Christian Reformed Church, located at 9034 23 Mile Rd. Marion, MI 49665, this Saturday, April 20, from 2–4 PM and 6–8 PM, with the funeral held Sunday, April 21, at 2 PM, also at Highland CRC. Mary would have appreciated donations to World Renew given in lieu of flowers. The Burkholder Family Funeral Home in McBain is handling the arrangements. Thoughts and prayers can be expressed by visiting the obituary online at burkholderfamilyfuneralhome.com.