Pamela Rae Likkel of Lynden went to her Lord, passing peacefully among family, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. She was 68 years old.
She was born Feb. 28, 1950 to Alfred and Johanna (Hollebeek) Vander Hulst in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pam’s family moved to Washington State in 1971, where she met her future husband, Kenneth D. Likkel, on a blind date. Ken and Pam were married on Oct. 13, 1972.
Pam was a loving mother and grandmother who clung to Christ’s command to love others. Touching lives with quiet attention to others’ needs before hers, Pam expressed her love for the Lord daily. From serving coffee as a waitress for 25-plus years to customer service in businesses around Lynden, and being a nanny for her grandchildren, hearts were changed, lives improved and gloomy days made brighter because of Pam. Ever a lover of hymns and song, never in front, she sang her prayers with gasping breaths until the end “… I will reign with Him forever.”
She was predeceased by her parents, sister Patricia Hendricks, and granddaughter Seraphine Likkel.
She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Ken; two sons, Dwayne (Glenda) Likkel of Bellingham and Chad (Diane) Likkel of Nooksack; daughter Jennifer (Frank) Pinterics of Chandler, Arizona; grandchildren Jordan, Cailyn, Kylie, Makenzie, Alyssa, Abby, Nolan and Emma; sisters Charlene (Arnie) Hilt of Lynden and Cheryl (Dick) Laninga of Grand Rapids; brother Alan Vander Hulst of Bellingham; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held in Nooksack Valley Reformed Church on Monday, May 14.
Memorials in Pam’s name may be made to Bethel Ministries International, P.O. Box 573 Reserve, NM 87830; and/or Lynden Christian Schools, 417 Lyncs Dr., Lynden, WA 98264.
You may share your sentiments and memories with Pam’s family at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were with Gillies Funeral Home, Lynden.
