Lois Jesiek Kayes, age 97 of Macatawa, died November 20, 2022. Lois was born and raised in Macatawa Park by Otto and Henrietta Jesiek, who were first-generation German immigrants. She grew up on the shores of Lake Macatawa and the docks of Jesiek Brothers Shipyard.
After graduating from Holland High School, she moved to Chicago eventually becoming a legal secretary and meeting her husband Adolph (Al). They married in 1952 and Lois retired to become a full-time homemaker. The family settled in Glen Ellyn, Illinois to raise their two children, enjoying summers at her childhood home in Macatawa Park and many winters in the family’s Key West home.
Her competitiveness was likely born from growing up with 3 brothers and a father who expected her to win. When her dad built the “Crescent” sailboat, Lois was told to race and win, or not come home. Needless to say, she beat those boys. And that competitiveness, along with her love of sailing, lasted throughout her life.
Al and Lois moved back to Holland in 1983 and Lois developed a passion for collecting postcards and other memorabilia from her family history, including the establishment of Jesiek Brothers Shipyard, and the Macatawa Park area. She became a master at eBay bidding resulting in an exhaustive and envious collection. She also began writing her book “Jenison Electric Park” which was published in 2015 – when Lois was 90 years old.
For decades she could be seen working in her yard and gardens from morning to evening. Her life-long love of playing bridge and tennis, gardening, and history were evident through her many years of active participation in the Holland Area Historical Society (President Emeritus), Holland Garden Club (recipient of a Holland Area Beautiful Award), Lady Knights, Holland Area Senior Professionals, Holland Women literary club, and Our Lady of the Lake.
She was known for her wit, determination, and devotion to her family, her garden, her faith, and her history. Even at the end, her competitiveness demanded that she live longer than her father who passed at age 93. Needless to say, she beat him.
Lois is survived by her daughter Karen Kayes of Spring Lake (children Ashleigh and Lucas), son Jeffrey Kayes (Sandra) of Holland (children Rachael, Brandon, and Shaun), niece Linda Jesiek King (Richard), sister-in-law Bobetta Krueger (John) and her beloved Miss Kitty. She was preceded in death by her husband Al, her parents Adolph (Otto) and Henrietta (Hattie) Jesiek, and brothers Donald (Audrey), William (Virginia), and Harold (Lenore).
Funeral services will be 11 am Tuesday (November 29) at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 480 152nd Avenue. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 pm Monday (November 28) at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Avenue.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the extraordinary care given by the staff of Atrio Help at Home and Comfort Keepers. Donations to Holland Area Historical Society or the Evergreen Day Center Endowment Fund at the Holland-Zeeland Community Foundation.
