Barbara June Collver

Barbara June Hussey Collver joined her parents Francis Hussey and Bessie Young Hussey and sister, Jean Hussey Meppelink, in their Heavenly home Friday, January 7, 2022. Her Hussey grandparents and her parents left a wonderful spiritual legacy for her to live, and also at Grand Rapids First Assembly of God, where her grandparents and parents were charter members in the late 20s.

Barb graduated from Kelloggsville High School (1953) and Blodgett Hospital School of Nursing (1957) and also attended Central Bible Institute (’53-4). She worked as an RN for over 50 years in several states as well as in Michigan. Barb loved to play baseball and softball, starting in junior high and continuing until the early 1980s. On her 21st birthday, she married a soldier (“Howie”), to whom she became engaged only four days after meeting. They enjoyed 64 ½ years of being happily married and had four children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Those left to follow the rich heritage she has left are her children Bobbi (Martin) Van Til, Sherri Collver, Patti (Timothy) McDonald, and James Francis Hussey (SherryLynn) Collver; grandchildren Kimberly Van Til (Raydon) Haskins (with daughter, Riyah), Heather Van Til (John) Mullen (with son, Jack), Robert (Sarah) Van Til (with daughter, Emma), Nathan (Paige) Van Til, Aaron Adams, Amy Adams (Antwan Oates) (with son, Jalen and daughters Sakani and Maleah), Cassie McDonald, Caleb (Brevonna) McDonald, Peter McDonald (with daughter, Bryleigh), Sam McDonald, James (Alina) Collver II, and Jerod (Rylee Galy) Collver.

She also leaves one sister, Dee Hussey Sakwitz in TX and a brother, James (Lynn) Hussey in Ada; as well as nieces, nephews, “adopted” children and grandchildren Dave (Laura) and Jonathan Chapman, and Dr. Dennis (Julie) Besley and family.

Barb traveled in medical missions from 1989-2006 and in 2010. She was very blessed to be able to take 43 trips to 27 different countries, several of which were disaster relief trips. She and her husband, Rev. Howard R. Collver, have been in the ministry over 50 years, pastoring in Norwich, CT, Hastings, MI, and Ann Arbor, MI. They were associate pastors at Grand Rapids First Assembly for 13 years. Barb also taught “Women’s Bible Adventure” for several years at the church and for over ten years led a small group book club, called “Inspirations from Christian Fiction.” She volunteered in several areas at church, including their library, and then was employed at Georgetown Public Library in Jenison.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at Cook Memorial Chapel (East building), 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville, MI. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at Cook Memorial Chapel, with visitation one hour prior. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.cookcaresgrandville.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to CompassionLink at https://www.compassionlink.org.