Viola Visser

Viola Lorraine (Wellington) Visser, 85, of South Haven, Michigan, died early Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born January 21, 1925 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Oscar and Mary Mae (Birch) Wellington, the youngest of eleven. At the tender age of thirteen, she had to drop out of school and begin working in order to help her parents support her siblings. Her first job was in customer service for the Murphy Company of South Haven. This is also where she met the young South Haven businessman Steve Visser whom she would marry seven years later. She became the mother of four daughters, and dedicated her life to their well-being and the well being of her husband. She worked at the side of her husband in their family business, "Visser & Son Supply Company" and volunteered her time as a room mother, Blue Bird Leader, Brownie Leader, and 4H Leader. Determined to continue her abruptly discontinued education she graduated from South Haven high-school a year before her oldest daughter and then went on to Lake Michigan College at the age of forty five. Viola was also known as a skilled seamstress, a tailor, and a master pie-maker.

Once her children were grown and making their own way, Viola experimented with other career options, selling life insurance, working as an accountant and finally becoming the business manager for her daughter at Olson Interiors in South Haven. She continued to work there until her late retirement at the age of 75. At that time, she and Steve traveled to visit their daughters all over the United States and even took a trip to the Netherlands to explore the Visser family roots. They established a lasting relationship with Theo and Cora Berends of Emmen (The Netherlands) whom they would consider family members for the rest of their lives.

After Steve's death in 2008, Viola moved to River Ridge Retirement Community where she continued her dedication to her children and grandchildren while exploring other interests. At the age of 84 she took her first motorcycle ride behind her son-in-law Jim Campbell, and travelled to Maui, Hawaii, with her daughters for an unforgettable week including witnessing a sunrise atop of a volcano, 15,000ft above the ground. During her time at River Ridge she learned to play penny poker and participated in the "Tuesday at Two" group with her two friends Joan and Jean thus becoming the third member of the "three musketeers." She made friends wherever she went and continued making pies to share with her neighbors. She also adopted Pixie, a toy poodle, who would become her trusted companion for the last year of her life.

Viola is survived by her daughters, Susan (Jim) Campbell of Eufaula, Alabama, Stephanie Visser of Los Angeles, California, Sandra (Al) Wildschut of South Haven, Sheryll ( Peter) Panagiotopoulos of St. Charles Missouri and two grandchildren: Avery Panagiotopoulos of St. Charles Missouri and John Roche of South Haven. In 1971, Viola became the host mother of Anne Levonius of Finland whom she regarded as her fifth daughter. Anne, her husband Tom Maihofer of South Haven, and their two daughters Sara and Laura held a special place in Viola's heart. In addition, Viola especially loved her friends David Kellogg, Jeff Ducy of the General Store, and Dick Foster and his late spouse Val, all of South Haven. Their generosity and kindness made her life, and especially the latter part of it, a more enjoyable experience.

No services are scheduled since it was Viola's desire to end her life quietly and without fanfare, very much in the manner in which she lived. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family's online guest book a www.FilbrandtFFH.com In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in her name to the South Haven Hospice.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.