Dawn Marie van Wingerden

                                   

Dawn Marie van Wingerden, 70, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 24.  

 

Dawn-- wife, mother, and Oma-- imitated her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ across her life. As the Lord Jesus came to serve, so Dawn came to serve. As a wife, she faithfully loved and served her loyal husband, John, for 51 years. John and Dawn were inseparable. You could not think of one without the other. Both were committed members of Grace Church North Olmsted, where they devoted themselves to various ministries. Together they raised eight children in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord. And both sought to emulate the Lord Jesus in their marriage. As a steady supporter, she and John established and grew the businesses Green Circle Growers and Express Seed.

 

As a mother Dawn poured herself into her eight children (David, Connie, Mona, CJ, Carolyn, Jason, Wesley, and Abby), demonstrating Christ's self-sacrifice, care, joy, love, mercy, grace, gentleness, and patience, irrespective of circumstances. Like Jesus, she loved each to the end. She rejoiced in every circumstance and she comforted each in trouble. She was a mom who had the habit of serving as the defender of any and every in need.

 

As an Oma, Dawn was the quintessential grandmother: always too generous, too attentive, too merciful, too patient. She rejoiced in seeing her grandkids come to know and serve the Lord. And she consistently prayed that each would believe in and follow the Lord Jesus.

 

If Dawn could be described in a single term, it would be hospitable. Her home was a refuge for family and all who visited. As a servant, Dawn rejoiced in receiving, welcoming, enjoying and providing a warm place for family and friends. She never turned away a guest, just as the Lord Jesus never turns away one who seeks him. 

 

Dawn is survived by her husband, her eight children and their spouses, thirty-one grandchildren, her mother Evelyn Radcliffe, as well as her sisters Denise Fugel and Diana Harberts. She was preceded in death by her father Melvin Radcliffe and sister Doreen Newell. 

 

Dawn's Memorial Service will be held at Parkside Church (7100 Pettibone Road, Chagrin Falls, OH), Tuesday, May 31st at 5:00pm. Following the service, there will be a time of fellowship and light refreshments onsite in the Parkside Commons. For those who would like to join the service via livestream, please connect through the following link: https://boxcast.tv/view/dawn-van-wingerden-memorial-service-kntoaufp0mzilmfqjlcd

Rebroadcasting of services will be available at  www.hempelfuneralhome.com .

For those who wish to make a memorial gift, please donate to Double Harvest, a Haitian relief ministry.https://www.doubleharvest.org/index.php/ways_to_help/donate

Hempel Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dawn van Wingerden. Please visit the funeral home's website to share a memory and sign the guest register, www.hempelfuneralhome.com.