Mae Alice (Naber) Van Ark, age 92, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Warm Friend in Holland, Michigan. She was a woman of deep faith, sure of where she was going. She was born on May 17, 1933, on the family farm outside of Zeeland, Michigan, the youngest of seven siblings. Mae’s mother died when she was five. She was raised in the homes of two brothers.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of seventy years, Myron (Mike) D. Van Ark, son, Jonathan (Gwen) Van Ark, daughter, Elizabeth (Alexie Robbert) Van Ark, grandson, Daniel Van Ark, and nieces and nephews.
Mae was an active member of Trinity Reformed Church: singing in the choir, playing first base on the softball team (she played with the boys in her one room schoolhouse), and participating in countless activities, giving of her many gifts. Mae walked the walk of her faith each day, especially in the years she ran a backyard ministry for underprivileged children after school. At Christ Memorial Reformed Church, she served as a Care Elder, a Compassionate Friend, sewed Chemo Caps, and, as a member of the Arts Committee, designed the inscriptions for The Rock.
Mae and Mike traveled extensively, in a pop-up trailer with their children. Later, they traveled in every state and province, as well as many countries on every continent, such as through Machu Picchu in Peru, Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan, and South Africa, where their “eyes were opened” to the effects of apartheid during the AIDs epidemic. (encompassKids, is a recommended charity in South Africa)
Mae was her one room schoolhouse “artist,” but growing up during the Great Depression didn’t offer opportunities for artistic development. She was exposed to fine art, while Mike was business manager of Oxbow Summer School of Painting. She took art classes at Hope College. Mae painted from Mike’s travel slides, during decades as an accomplished watercolorist showing at Castle Park Gallery, and displaying in many venues, painting over 500 framed pieces. She was part of the “Four M’s” painting group, many arts organizations, and documented the need for the Holland Area Arts Counsil. Later, Mae taught watercolor, “Art for All” (each week for twenty years), handmade paper, and adults’ and children’s classes at the Arts Council. She also created Handmade Paper (even in the bathtub). Mae was successful in whatever media or craft she turned her creative eye, such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, macramé, quilting, and the list goes on.
Mae loved interacting with all kinds of people in every place she worshiped, worked, created, traveled, and lived. Childhood difficulties created a great deal of compassion. Mae gave freely of her strengths, gifts, playful spirit, and possessions. A fine cook and baker, she entertained friends, family, visitors from Holland and all over the world. She acted through and with her faith, as she warmly embraced people in many relationships during the almost ninety-three years of her very rich and full life.
Mae had cancer of the esophagus for over a year, eventually not being able to eat. Friends, including the community of Warm Friend, surrounded her, especially: Anne G., Dave and Judy T., Chad from Hospice of Holland, the loving care of Atrio, and Reverend Judy Nelson and Caroline A. of Christ Memorial.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday (May 30) in the Chapel at Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Road. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. A memorial visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Please use entrance D or E.
Memorial contributions may be made to encompassKids (mentioned above).
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