Marcia Lynn Howe
April 21st, 1952 - September 7th, 2025
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Marcia's Obituary
Marcia L. Howe, age 73, of Dimondale, passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Hospital, Lansing. She was born April 21, 1952, in Clifton Springs, NY, the fourth of Rev. Francis and Mayneen (Jellema) Dykstra’s five children. Marcia is best remembered for her love, kindness, compassion, perseverance, and faith in Christ.
As a preacher’s daughter, Marcia moved with her parents to various towns, first in Michigan and later in Illinois, being led by God’s call to wherever her father served as pastor. Her earliest memories from her home in Holland, Michigan, include picking blueberries with her siblings. Her love of music blossomed under her parents’ care, as she learned to play the piano and violin. Her favorite, however, was singing as a soprano in the choir. She was always singing, even in school.
Marcia’s love for singing continued to flourish in high school. She attended various high schools and graduated from Clinton (Illinois) High School in 1970. In high school, she sang with The Young Folk, a traveling youth choir from the 1960s, performing at various places, including the Illinois State Fair. In her senior year, she starred as Marion the librarian. We can still hear her singing her solo, “Goodnight My Someone.”
In the fall of 1970, Marcia enrolled at Hope College and met the love of her life when Gary Howe courageously asked her if he could sit next to her in English class. Marcia jokingly replied that the seat looked empty to her. He was smitten by her long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. From that moment on, she owned his heart. The two married on June 29, 1974. They were married for 46 years and celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date shortly before Gary passed away in 2021. Their devotion is an epic love story for the ages.
Marcia graduated from Hope College in 1974 with a degree in education. After becoming a mother, she returned to school to obtain a master’s degree in early childhood education from Western Michigan University and a second master’s degree in special education from Michigan State University. She taught in Hartford, Lake Forest (Illinois), and Lansing, where she retired in 2024. Marcia was so gifted as a teacher that she taught early childhood education courses at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor and won Teacher of the Year in 2014 for her work at Woodcreek Achievement Center, AdvancePath Academy in Lansing. She loved her students like her own children wherever she went and whomever she taught.
Marcia’s love for service to God and neighbor led her to serve in various church and community organizations. Her favorite roles, however, were her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. She fiercely loved her family. She cherished her role as Oma. She supported Gary as he farmed their family farm, Ter-Aine Farm in Decatur. She served others through Presbyterian Women, Blue Star Mothers, Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, 4-H, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, and First Presbyterian Church, Holt. She even coached her daughters’ softball teams. Her faith in Christ guided her wherever she went, allowing her to share Christ’s love and peace with others.
Marcia is survived by her children, Melissa (J.R.) Schmidt, Amanda (Scott) Blackburn, Jonathan (Laurie), Matthew (Arlene), and Rebecca (Elizabeth); 13 grandchildren; sister Sharon (Dykstra) Long; brother, Brian Dykstra; and sister-in-law Ellen (Phil) Friday. She is preceded in death by her husband Gary; her parents; siblings Diane (Dykstra) Naffziger and Barry Dykstra; and in-laws Max and Blanche Howe.
The family will receive guests from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 13, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, 2021 N. Aurelius Rd., Holt, MI. Interment will occur at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2025, at Lakeside Cemetery, Decatur. The family will gather at 2:30 pm at Newell Chapel, 83313 M-51, Decatur for a formal procession. Memorial contributions may be given to the Leukemia Research Foundation, www.leukemiarf.org; Wounded Warrior Project, www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org; or Tunnels to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org. Those wishing to leave a condolence for the family may do so at www.newellchapel.com.
To view Marcia's celebration of life services, please join us via this livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/7NdJzD5F2GU
As a preacher’s daughter, Marcia moved with her parents to various towns, first in Michigan and later in Illinois, being led by God’s call to wherever her father served as pastor. Her earliest memories from her home in Holland, Michigan, include picking blueberries with her siblings. Her love of music blossomed under her parents’ care, as she learned to play the piano and violin. Her favorite, however, was singing as a soprano in the choir. She was always singing, even in school.
Marcia’s love for singing continued to flourish in high school. She attended various high schools and graduated from Clinton (Illinois) High School in 1970. In high school, she sang with The Young Folk, a traveling youth choir from the 1960s, performing at various places, including the Illinois State Fair. In her senior year, she starred as Marion the librarian. We can still hear her singing her solo, “Goodnight My Someone.”
In the fall of 1970, Marcia enrolled at Hope College and met the love of her life when Gary Howe courageously asked her if he could sit next to her in English class. Marcia jokingly replied that the seat looked empty to her. He was smitten by her long blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. From that moment on, she owned his heart. The two married on June 29, 1974. They were married for 46 years and celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date shortly before Gary passed away in 2021. Their devotion is an epic love story for the ages.
Marcia graduated from Hope College in 1974 with a degree in education. After becoming a mother, she returned to school to obtain a master’s degree in early childhood education from Western Michigan University and a second master’s degree in special education from Michigan State University. She taught in Hartford, Lake Forest (Illinois), and Lansing, where she retired in 2024. Marcia was so gifted as a teacher that she taught early childhood education courses at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor and won Teacher of the Year in 2014 for her work at Woodcreek Achievement Center, AdvancePath Academy in Lansing. She loved her students like her own children wherever she went and whomever she taught.
Marcia’s love for service to God and neighbor led her to serve in various church and community organizations. Her favorite roles, however, were her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. She fiercely loved her family. She cherished her role as Oma. She supported Gary as he farmed their family farm, Ter-Aine Farm in Decatur. She served others through Presbyterian Women, Blue Star Mothers, Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, 4-H, Battle Creek VA Medical Center, and First Presbyterian Church, Holt. She even coached her daughters’ softball teams. Her faith in Christ guided her wherever she went, allowing her to share Christ’s love and peace with others.
Marcia is survived by her children, Melissa (J.R.) Schmidt, Amanda (Scott) Blackburn, Jonathan (Laurie), Matthew (Arlene), and Rebecca (Elizabeth); 13 grandchildren; sister Sharon (Dykstra) Long; brother, Brian Dykstra; and sister-in-law Ellen (Phil) Friday. She is preceded in death by her husband Gary; her parents; siblings Diane (Dykstra) Naffziger and Barry Dykstra; and in-laws Max and Blanche Howe.
The family will receive guests from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 13, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, 2021 N. Aurelius Rd., Holt, MI. Interment will occur at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 14, 2025, at Lakeside Cemetery, Decatur. The family will gather at 2:30 pm at Newell Chapel, 83313 M-51, Decatur for a formal procession. Memorial contributions may be given to the Leukemia Research Foundation, www.leukemiarf.org; Wounded Warrior Project, www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org; or Tunnels to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org. Those wishing to leave a condolence for the family may do so at www.newellchapel.com.
To view Marcia's celebration of life services, please join us via this livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/7NdJzD5F2GU
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