Shirley Mellema Bierlink was born July 19, 1935 in Bellflower, CA, to Andrew and Gertrude, the oldest of eight tightly knit siblings born to a Dutch immigrant family. The family migrated to Whatcom County in her early teens. She met lifelong friends at Sumas Christian, Mt. Baker High, Nooksack Valley, and Lynden Christian.
Shirley married Fred Bierlink in 1955 and provided the love and care for a family of six on a dairy farm north of Lynden. Together they raised Henry (Evonne), Rod (Lana), Beverly Bowen (Ralph), Brenda (Tom) Iverson, Becky (Chris) Teeuwsen, and Bruce (Rebecca). They enjoyed 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Shirley joins her husband Fred, son-in-law Terry Bowen, brother Ted, and many sister and brother in-laws in our memories.
Her Mellema siblings all remained in Whatcom County and there were few days that some weren’t at her home for a cup of tea and “community updates.” She’ll be missed by Betty Schweigert, Joyce Zylstra, Dick (Esther), Tony (Cindy), Andy (Barb), and Barbie (Bobby) Iaconetti.
Shirley loved music and instilled that love in her family. She played the organ at First Lynden CRC for decades and blessed countless families at weddings, funerals, and celebrations. Service through the gift of music was deeply rooted in her firm faith in Jesus as her Savior and model for living.
Shirley brought people together. Her natural joy and inquisitive nature radiated first to her family but also embraced a larger community – church, schools, and lifelong friends. Her family so appreciated her encouraging, spunky, adventurous, competitive, and kind and caring spirit. She was God’s gift to us all!
Please join the family for visitation on Friday, Oct. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at Gillies Funeral Home. A memorial service thanking God for Shirley’s life will be held at First Christian Reformed Church in Lynden on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to Ebenezer or Lynden Christian Schools.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home.
