Cleo Venhuizen, a lifelong resident and an icon of Holland, spent the day saying goodbye to her family, and then peacefully passed away on May 15 at the age of 98.
She was a major contributor and leader in Holland. She served as Executive Director of the Camp Fire Girls program for 30 years, creating beneficial activities and lifelong memories, including outdoor camps and social activities, for hundreds of girls and their families. She was awarded a Presidential Commendation for exceptional service to others by President Richard Nixon.
Following her retirement, she opened Cleo’s Beauty and Bridal Shop in 1980. There she and her “girls” facilitated the weekly perms, colors, and cuts of countless ladies, and Cleo managed the business of weddings, anniversaries, graduations, as well as quinceaneras for the growing Hispanic community. She managed her business for 30 years, until the age of 85.
At age 98, Cleo was honored in 2021, as the longest season ticket holder of Hope College Men’s Basketball; she has been attending for over 70 years. She also served in leadership positions for United Way, the Red Cross, the Women’s Literary Club, and Junior League, as a “Red Hot Mama”.
Cleo was a legend in this community, embracing both the history of Holland and the more recent diversity of the city. She was profoundly loyal to friends and family alike, and quietly supported anyone who needed a helping hand, without fanfare or recognition. During the last twenty years, she was a staple at the soccer fields, Dutch dome, or high school theatre, as she watched her great-grandchildren do what they love best, the yacht club on Friday nights with her widow friends, and the life of the party as she joined her family on countless vacations and excursions well into her nineties.
Cleo joins the love of her life, Bill Venhuizen, husband for almost 60 years, and her parents, Ben and Betty Rutgers, and is proudly survived by 3 children, Kristi (Tom) Van Howe, Bill (Stacie) Venhuizen, Bob Venhuizen, 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, Jill (Sean) Webb (Morgan, Katie, Kelly, Conner), Katrina Van Howe- Vollstedt (Ethan, Cleo), Heidi (Mark) Kremer (Madeline, Andrew), Brooke Roetman (Paige) and Daniel Casebolt, Josh (Stacy) Van Howe (Jasper, Fletcher), Ryan (Richie) Venhuizen (Garret, Adleigh), and former daughter in-laws, Vicki Venhuizen and Sue Terrill, as well as a community that knew her and loved her.
A Celebration of her Life well lived will be held on June 11, 2022, at Christ Memorial Church at 12:00 noon, and will be immediately followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Holland, https://www.hollandhospice.org.
