Doris (Bohland) (Steele) Sirk

Doris (Bohland) (Steele) Sirk was born on August 29, 1940 to Frank and Frances (Dewispelaere) Bohland. Doris grew up in the small town of Grant, Michigan, and graduated from Grant High School in 1958. After receiving her Associate’s Degree in Secretarial Studies from Ferris State University (Ferris State Institute at the time), Doris accepted a job working for the State of Michigan and moved to Lansing to live with her aunt and uncle. That is where she met Jeffrey Steele, Sr.; the pair married in 1963 and, not long after, moved to White Cloud, where they would raise their two children Jeff, Jr. and Kirsten. In 1981, after going back to Ferris, Doris received her Bachelors Degree in Business with a minor in Education and spent many years substitute teaching and working for Newaygo County Community Education. She retired in 2001.

Doris and Jeff, Sr. traveled together, including trips to the Caribbean, and enjoyed time spent with family and friends. Doris especially enjoyed her role of grandmother and, whether she was having her grandchildren over or traveling to see them, always made their time together special. After almost 40 years of marriage, Jeff, Sr. passed away in 2003. Despite this loss, Doris found love again and married Richard Sirk in 2010. They spent almost 14 years together traveling the southern states in the winter, visiting the Upper Peninsula in the summer, and sharing their love with new pets.

Throughout her life, Doris was very active in her community. She spent years volunteering as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, was a member of the Friends of the Library and the River Valley Club, took part in community celebrations, and watched many Homecoming parades from the front lawn of her home. Doris’s faith played a very important role in her life and spent the most time as a member of White Cloud United Methodist Church, where she volunteered with the food pantry, taught Vacation Bible School, and participated in several Bible studies and women’s groups. Doris even managed to share her love of gardening with the community as she turned the lot next to her house into a space filled with flowers, ornaments, and new trees.

If you found yourself at Doris’s house, you’d likely hear about a new recipe she had tried, stories about her friends from church, a recap of a recent trip to a greenhouse, or a funny reminiscence. If the season was right, you might get a tour of her garden. There was a good chance you’d find yourself falling into a fit of laughter and leaving with a full belly and a bag of leftovers.

Surviving Doris are her husband, Richard Sirk, sister Susan (John) Dyk, children Jeff (Christie) Steele, Jr. and Kirsten (Steve) Maki, grandchildren Samantha (Adam) Engel, Amanda (Brian) Wood, Heather Maki, and Jeffrey Maki, great grandson, Keith Wood, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Doris also leaves Richard’s children and grandchildren who brought more love to the last 14 years of her life.

VISITATION : Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel.  FUNERAL SERVICES : Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel with a time of fellowship immediately following at the White Cloud United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.  GRAVESIDE SERVICES : Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 1:45pm at the Newaygo Cemetery in Newaygo.  MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : White Cloud Community Library OR White Cloud United Methodist Church Food Pantry.  Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Sirk/Steele Family online at www.crandellfh.com.  Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel  231-924-0800.

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