Kathleen Marie Terpstra

Kathleen Marie Terpstra, born July 18, 1944, died peacefully the morning of January 4, 2023 at Hospice of Lansing’s Stoneleigh Residence. She was 78.  

Kathy was the first daughter of Roy and Thelma Pemberton, and was born in Harbor Springs, Michigan.  As a young adult, she married her first husband John, conceived her first child, Kim, and relocated to West Michigan. Ten years later, she married her second husband, Ron, and conceived her second child, Michael.   She spent her adulthood raising her two children, considering being a mother to be her most important role in life.  She also worked for Kmart for over three decades, building a social network of lifelong friends, acquiring multifaceted knowledge through the many different positions she held, and providing for her family. 

Kathy loved to travel and she and her beloved Ron, her third husband, visited many parts of the US.  She was particularly fond of Arizona, having visited numerous times. She also mothered many over her lifetime, providing gracious and unconditional love, comfort, and wisdom to her children, her grandchildren, and others to whom she endeared herself with her warm, gentle hospitality and kindness. Kathy also loved animals, and was a pet parent to several special dogs over the years: Cricket, Frisky, Nikki, Brandy, Angel, and Buddy. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Thelma and Roy Pemberton, her brother, Ed Pemberton, and her husband, Ron Terpstra.  She is survived by her sister, Barb Lemieur, her daughter, Kim Wiseman, her sons Michael Heisler, Tito Herrera, and Lance Terpstra, and her grandchildren Katie and Isaiah Wiseman. 

A memorial service celebrating Kathy’s life will be held on July 14, 2023 at 1:00 PM at at Rosedale Cemetery, located at 50 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49544. There will be an informal gathering in the chapel.  Her ashes will be interred immediately following at 2:30PM. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kent County Humane Society in Kathy’s name. There are many ways to give, all of which would have pleased Kathy to know animals were being fed, sheltered, and supported while waiting for their forever homes.  Please visit 

https://www.hswestmi.org/give.html.  Arrangements are entrusted to Cremation Your Way. Online condolences may be made at www.cremationyourway.com.

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