Marie R. Oosse

August 1, 1920 - January 6, 2021

Marie Oosse, 100, passed away January 6, 2021 at ManorCare in Palm Harbor, FL. She was born in Moline, MI, August 1, 1920, to Samuel and Anna (Slager) Rozema. She is survived by her daughter Bonnie Wagner, sons Gordon (Betty Jo) and Bruce (Jianjun) Oosse, 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Richard Oosse, and daughter Judy VanderVeen preceded her in death. Marie grew up on her family’s onion and celery farm near Moline, MI, the youngest of 15 children. After the farm was sold and she was old enough, she followed her siblings to Grand Rapids for better-paying jobs. There she met Richard Oosse at a roller skating rink in 1939, and they began dating. In October, 1940, with World War II looming, Richard's National Guard unit was activated as part of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Division and immediately sent to Louisiana for training. After his promotion to sergeant in July of 1941, he returned to Grand Rapids on leave and they were married on July 24. She returned with him to Louisiana, renting a room near his base. In April, 1942, the 32nd Division was sent to Australia and fought several campaigns on Papua New Guinea. In December of 1942, Marie gave birth to their daughter Bonnie back home in Grand Rapids. She worked at Keeler Brass Co. and raised her daughter until Richard’s return in 1945. From 1946 to 1951, they bought their first home together and had Gordon, Bruce and Judy. Around 1948, Richard and Marie purchased land and three lake-front cabins near Lake Ann, MI, and opened their new "Paradise Hollow Resort" for weekly summer rentals. As a builder for a log cabin company, Richard added six more cabins. The family continued living in Grand Rapids. Richard opened the resort in the Spring and closed it in the Fall; Marie and the kids joined when school was out, operating the resort while living in a trailer or one of their cabins. Family and friends streamed up yearly from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo to enjoy their creation, and many of their descendants still do today. Marie and Richard were year-round outdoorsmen who loved hunting, fishing, berry picking and snowmobiling. When the bluegill were biting, Marie would sometimes drop off a full stringer for him to clean while she went back out. She also enjoyed gardening, and socializing with resort guests and her many siblings and friends. From 1956 to 1960, the Oosses moved to Clearwater, FL, to help their son's asthma. There they owned and operated Shore Pines Apartments, while still maintaining the summer schedule at Paradise Hollow. In 1960, they moved back to Grand Rapids. When all their kids had left the nest, they built a new house at Paradise Hollow. About 1975 they sold the house and resort, while keeping part of the property to retire on. Health issues eventually forced a move back to Florida, where Bonnie and Bruce had settled. Richard passed away in 2000. Marie then lived with Bonnie and grandson Doug in Palm Harbor until a recent fall in December. She will be dearly missed by her family, who enjoyed celebrating her 100th birthday with her on August 1. A private gathering will be held by Marie’s Florida family to celebrate her life. Burial will be in Traverse City at a later date.