May 8, 1928 – December 23, 2021

Cynthia Roelofs, 93, of Wyoming, Mich., born Cynthia Clara Van Dyke, went to celebrate Christmas in heaven on December 23, 2021. Residing at the time with her daughter, Marilou Richardson, she passed away while in hospice care at Cape Canaveral Hospital.

Memorial services will be planned for the spring in Grand Rapids after which her ashes will be interred next to Harlan’s in Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery.

Cynthia was born to Klaus and Margaret Van Dyke and raised on their family farm near Leota, Minn. After graduating from high school she immediately assumed service as a teacher in the town of Prinsburg, Minn., where she met her husband to be, Harlan Ray Roelofs. After marrying in August of 1951, Cynthia and Harlan moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., where the latter pursued his undergraduate work at Calvin College (now Calvin University) followed by training for the ministry at Calvin Seminary. Upon graduation, Harlan was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church, and together he and Cynthia served churches in Luctor, Kansas, Orange City, Iowa, Anaheim, Calif., Montello Park (Holland), Mich., and East Martin, Mich., after which they retired to Wyoming, Mich. Harlan passed away in 1997.

Cynthia completed her education degree at Cal State Fullerton in California and served for many years as a teacher and then substitute teacher in a number of schools, continuing that service well beyond typical retirement age. In retirement Cynthia was a member of LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church. She had many interests: travel (including several trips with World Renew), participating in the prisoner education programs of Crossroads Prison Ministries, documenting the extended family in detailed scrapbooks, knitting, reading, and playing games with friends and family.

Cynthia was the oldest of six siblings, Johanna Soodsma (deceased), Henry (deceased), Peter of Seattle, Wash., Marlyce Mulder of Waupun, Wisc., and Ethel Potes of Sparta, Mich.

She is survived by her children, Lyle Roelofs (Laurie) of Berea, Ky., Karl Roelofs (Vicki) of Wyoming, Mich., Marilou Richardson (Steve (deceased)) of Merritt Island, Fla., and Evan Roelofs (Sue) of Byron Center, Mich., 12 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren.

Together with her husband she also provided a home for two Cambodian refugees, brothers Lann and Thong Chau now grown, married and living in Zeeland, Mich., with their spouses, Lor and Vanessa, and children, all of whom have remained close to Cynthia.