Aleda Greydanus Knol

East Lansing

02/07/1962 – 11/15/2017

Aleda Tallena Greydanus Knol was born on February 7, 1962, in what was then the sleepy, unassuming city of Grand Rapids, MI. She was the youngest of six children born to recent Dutch immigrants Willem and Alida Greydanus. Aleda grew up in a loving, gezellig (cozy) home along with her five siblings who all doted on, and sometimes teased, their beloved little sister. The Greydanus home was a welcoming place to friends and strangers with whom they shared good food, wine, music, laughter, and spirited conversation. This convivial upbringing shaped her into a confident, wise young woman who quietly touched many lives.

While still a student at Grand Rapids Christian HS, Aleda and her best friend Heidi Vandenberg started their own house cleaning business. Aleda studied at Calvin College before transferring to MSU, earning a BA in Communication in 1984. At MSU she shared an apartment with Heidi in the same complex as her brother Martin and his best friend Jody. They would share meals, happy hours, and Friday night Dallas viewing parties. Aleda and Jody dated numerous times during those years without realizing it. After Jody left for his first radio job at WMUK in Kalamazoo, absence made their hearts grow fonder and, before they knew it, they fell in love and were married in Grand Rapids shortly after Aleda’s graduation from MSU. The couple lived in Kalamazoo for a brief time before returning to their beloved MSU when Jody was hired at WKAR. Aleda worked for MSU Advancement in a variety of positions for 23 years, earning the respect and affection of her supervisors and co-workers – many of whom became lifelong friends. But her proudest accomplishment was bringing into the world her daughters Adria and Alivia, in whom she instilled her characteristics of loyalty, love, and grace. When Aleda was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2008 her greatest hope was to see her daughters grow to become strong, caring women. In the following seven years of life that modern medicine afforded her, this hope for her daughters was realized. Aleda’s cancer returned in late 2015, prompting her to pursue her long-held dream of building a first-floor master suite, which she dubbed the “West Wing”. Finally, after courageous attempts to keep her disease at bay, Aleda donned her wings on November 15, 2017 and flew away from her cozy West Wing nest.

Besides her daughters, Adria (25) and Alivia (21), she leaves numerous people who will deeply mourn her loss and treasure their memories of her: husband, best friend, and heart of her heart, Jody; siblings, Arjen Greydanus (Maija Peterson) of Okemos, Delianne (Barry) Koops of El Cerrito, CA, Ali (David) Young of Framingham, MA, David (Sonja) Greydanus of Baltimore, MD, Martin (Maggie) Greydanus of Ada; mother-in-law, Shirley Knol Dyksterhouse of Grand Rapids; and sisters-in-law, Ruth Sutherland of Holland, and Jan (Jim) Southall of Orlando, FL. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

Aleda’s family invites you to comfort one another at visitation at River Terrace Church, 1509 River Terrace Drive, East Lansing, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, December 1st. Funeral to be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd, at River Terrace Church, with visitation starting one hour before. Supper will be served afterward with a menu personally selected by Aleda. Aleda’s ashes will be interred at the forthcoming Michigan State University Columbarium. As an alternative to flowers, honor Aleda’s memory by making a gift to the Dr. Anne Schott Breast Cancer Research Fund. Visit victors.us/aledaknol to make your gift.