Obituary of Marie J.C. Doelman

Marie J.C. Doelman, known to all as Mieke, died at age 72 on December 26, 2018, after a valiant six-year battle with breast cancer that put on display daily her grit and graciousness, fighting spirit and faith. Mieke was born to Peter and Nellie Vroegop in Hillegom, The Netherlands, on May 29, 1946. She immigrated to the U.S. with her parents and three siblings when she was 12 years old. Life was not easy for the immigrant family who made a living as bulb farmers; Mieke spent her teen years selling flowers door to door to help out financially.

Mieke met her husband, Case, through her involvement with the Young People group of Escondido (California) Christian Reformed Church. They married when she was 18 years old, and the newlyweds moved to Auburn, Washington to start dairy farming. In 1967, Case and Mieke bought their own dairy in Olympia, Washington, where they worked hard and raised their four children.

Mieke loved music, flowers and landscaping. She used God’s creation as her palette and turned everything she touched into an artistic display of beauty. She was a member of Olympia Christian Reformed Church since its inception in the early 1970s.

Mieke is survived by her husband, Case Doelman; her four children, Casey (Kari) Doelman, Kelly (Bill) Cairns, Tim (Joy) Doelman, and Chris (Michaela) Doelman; her 12 grandchildren; and her siblings, Neil (Virginia) Vroegop, Dita DeJong and Leny Boersma.

A memorial service celebrating Mieke's life will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019, 11:00 a.m., at Olympia Christian Reformed Church, 2121 Log Cabin Road, Olympia, WA 98501.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Thurston County Furniture Bank, 2121 Log Cabin Road, Olympia, WA 98501 or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109.