Beate Margarethe Vreeken

Beate M. Vreeken, age 96, passed away peacefully on Monday October 30, 2023. Cherished wife to Gerrit A. Vreeken for 65 years. Loving mother to Klaus (Jeanne) Mende, Percy (Charisse) Vreeken, Ilja (Kelley) Vreeken, and Steven (Ginette) Vreeken. Adored grandmother to 12 and great-grandmother to 12 and great-great grandmother to 2.

Beate was born in Essen, Germany on April 11, 1927 to Aloysius Karrenberg and Gertrude Hoffmann in Rellinghausen, Essen, Germany. She spent her early years as an only child enjoying dance and ballet. Soon these were clouded and made extremely difficult during the war years when her father was drafted to never return and had to learn to survive with her mother moving to various locations while being bombed and left to find shelter. Post-war years included the completion of business services education and a start to a promising career as secretary later leading to an executive role at a major electric utility. She even modelled in her limited time. Her resilience, open heart, class and wonderful spirit made her the love of her peers in the work environment. Her social and circle of friends grew ever larger. Beate’s first son, Klaus Peter Mende was welcomed into the world in 1947. Travel she did and a voyage aboard a merchant marine vessel with Gerrit as its officer soon flourished into an adventure of a lifetime. Gerrit certainly understood the star quality of Beate! After marriage they moved to Holland and thrived in the small community of Heiloo near the North Sea where sons Percy and Ilja were born. Stories abound of Beate learning Dutch and Dutch cooking! In 1966 they made the huge decision to move to Canada where Steven was born and then eventually moved to the Michigan. Beate was introduced to Grosse Pointe through the Welcome Wagon where she made lifetime friends and was also a member of The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club as well as volunteering at Bon Secours Hospital.

Beate was always friendly, curious, up front, charming, caring and a friend you could trust and count on. She was a great cook (her nasi-goreng meals were unbelievable), could entertain and match every social event with her wit and humor. She was ever supportive of Gerrit in his work and career and deeply caring and devoted to every one of their children. She loved cruises with Gerrit and always talked about their adventure to the Antarctic. She loved reading about and following the lives of movie stars and aristocrats, watching operas, and enjoyed being with friends in the Bahamas. She never forgot birthdays and always tried to brighten everyone’s day. She even worked part-time into her 90’s at the family company where she was regarded as the real boss! Even there she was a great listener, a trusted advice giver and a symbol of true love and devotion.

Beate treasured each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart. She also leaves behind her adored cats. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation for Beate will be on Sunday, November 5, 2023 from 4 PM until 7 PM at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Detroit Opera House or Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society.