Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Van Leeuwen, Wim   June 29, 2022
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net July 19, 2023, 12:25 pm

Hasting's Reminder - Saturday July 6, 2022

                              Wim van Leeuwen

Wim (pronounced "Vim")van Leeuwen (Meaning"of Lions"), age 73, of Lake Odessa, 
MI, passed away in the arms of his family at his home in Lake Odessa,MI, on June 
29, 2022.

Wim was born January 12, 1949 in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands, the 
eldest of the five children of Antonius "Anton" van Leeuwen  Maria "Miep" van 
Vugt. Anton was a family doctor while Miep assisted in running his medical 
office on the ground floor of their home in Rotterdam. In those days doctors 
were always on call, sometimes visiting patients in their home in the middle of 
the night, Ironically Wim spent the final weeks of his life waiting for a 
doctor's appointment that came too late.

In his youth Wim served as an altar boy at the Catholic church attended by his 
family, and he played on his school's field hockey team (yes, boys and men play 
field hockey.)He was also an avid fan of his hometown soccer club, Feyenoord. He 
most enjoyed the month of August when his family vacationed at Katwijk on the 
shore of the North Sea. Whether rain or shine Wim could be found on the beach 
with his shovel constructing dikes and canals to fight the rising tide 
threatening his sandcastles.

While attending college in Amsterdam Wim fell in love with Margaret Stanchfield 
and followed her home to Michigan where they married in 1972. He completed his 
bachelor of science degree at Eastern Michigan university, then earned a master 
of science degree in geology at Michigan State University.

After trying life in Huntington Beach, CA, then Houston,TX, he returned to 
Michigan and taught computer science for a time a West Shore Community College 
in Scottville.

In 1982 Wim began what turned out to be 28 years of employment with the State of 
Michigan.As a field geologist for the Geological Survey Division of the 
department of Natural Resources he conducted oversight of oil and gas well 
drilling and production activities. As a senior geologist for the remediation  
and redevelopment Division of the Department of Environmental Quality he 
conducted oversight of hydrogeological investigation and clean up of sites of 
environmental contamination.

In 1993 Wim married fellow geologist Cheryl Stanfield. After retiring together 
in 2010 they enjoyed winters on the Gulf Coast socializing with snowbirds from 
other states as well as summers at their home on Jordan Lake in Lake Odessa.

Soccer always remained Wim's favorite sport, but over the 50+ years lived in his 
adopted country he learned to love college football and basketball, particularly 
the MSU Spartans.He also became a fan of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit 
Lions (will they ever get to a Super Bowl?) After retiring he became a fan of 
the Detroit Tigers upon discovering the slow pace of baseball could be enjoyed 
while sipping a PBR draft with his friends at Buddy's on the Beach.

Wim was a food, honest, intelligent, and caring man with a great sense of humor. 
His biggest regret may have been not getting a chance to fight his disease as he 
had fought the rising tide of the North Sea. His passing has left a huge hole in 
the lives of his family and friends that will be difficult if not impossible to 
fill.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Stanfield; daughter, Michella Bell; son, 
Christopher van Leeuw; stepdaughter, Nicole (Richard) Walsh; step-grandchildren, 
Amyra Morgan, Mariah Fillion, Audrey Walsh, Jack Walsh; siblings, Tonny (Gijs) 
Kempen, Wybrand van Leeuwen, John (Jolien) van Leeuwen, Yolanda (Ronald) van 
Dijk; brother-in-law, Lynn Stanfield; niece, Suzanne and nephews, Peter, Hans, 
Mark,Stefan, Lucas, and their children; special cousin, Trix de Smit; special 
friend, JR Colon.

He was preceded in death by his parent.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Wim's life will be scheduled 
later this summer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Department of Earth and environmental 
Sciences of the College of natural Science at Michigan State University; 
https//ees.natsci.msu.edu/about/giving/, the union of Concerned Scientists: 
httpa://www.ucsusa.org/about/ways-give, or Lifewater 
International:https://lifewater.org/


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