Obituary for Ronda Carmen Vissers (Ulrich)
Loving sister, wife, mother and grandma, Ronda Carmen Ulrich Vissers went to meet her Savior and Lord on January 19, 2023 after a more than thirteen-year battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Ronda, 82, passed in her home being cared for by her husband, Al, daughters Alethea and Sara plus her granddaughter, Kaela, and care from a distance by her sons Eric and Ian along with their families plus the compassionate loving assistance from Four Seasons Hospice.
Ronda was born to Charles Kenneth Ulrich and Ethel Carol Minnick Ulrich on February 3rd, 1940 in Spenser, Indiana. She made profession of her faith as a middle schooler in the Methodist Church of Lowell, Michigan. After moving to Allendale, Michigan, Ronda attended Coopersville High School where she was a committed participant in Student Government, Drum Majorette of the High School band, acting in school plays and operas, a member of the choir and nurses club graduating as the salutatorian of her graduating class. While in high school, Ronda met her future husband, Alvin Glenn Vissers, whom she married on November 11, 1961
After graduation, she pursued her passion of serving others by enrolling in the nursing program at Blodgett Memorial Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating three years later as a Registered Nurse. Ronda pursued a career in nursing until the birth of her children when she enthusiastically became a full-time mother, housewife and volunteer in her church and local Young Life ministries. During these years she continued working as a part-time nurse, obtaining registration in Indiana, Texas, State of Victoria, Australia and North Carolina due to the many moves with her family. Ronda joyfully returned to full-time nursing employment to support the family during her husband’s graduate studies and his partnership in the establishment of a construction business in Southwestern Michigan.
Before Alzheimer’s, God led Ronda, her husband and family on an awesome, adventuresome life of living in 15 communities, in five states and on three continents. One of the first activities in a new community was to join a church where Ronda served her Lord through leadership in the women’s ministries, Sunday School and with her husband in youth group leadership. In four of these communities, Ronda was a key partner with her husband in establishing local Young Life committees that initiated active Young Life ministries. While nursing was her passion, the last seventeen years were spent as an administrative assistant to her husband in a new construction equipment business and later as they served together with SIM, a Christian Missionary organization, working in Ethiopia and the SIM International Office in Charlotte, NC. before moving to Rosman, NC to assist her husband in overseeing the construction of Carolina Point a Young Life Camp. Here you might find Ronda hosting visitors to the campsite or assisting in mowing the grass.
Ronda also had the gift of hospitality, hosting many groups and people in her home over the years for various events. That gift of gracious hosting was in many different venues from their mobile home to a large spacious home, Christmas carol singing on the front yard in the Australian outback, church halls and spacious banquet halls. After her local church, Young Life ministry consumed most of her volunteer time by serving on the local Young Life committee, a volunteer nurse for a season at the Young Life Southwind Camp, a Young Lives child caregiver at Washington Ranch in Washington plus hosting of four different international high school exchange students for one school year each.
Ronda is survived by her husband of 61 years, Alvin Vissers, four loving children, Alethea Vissers, of Fort Mill, SC., Eric Vissers (Carla) of Saugatuck, MI., Ian Vissers (Cynthia) of Laurel, MD. and Sara Vissers of Rosman, NC. She was blessed with six grandchildren that she dearly loved and with whom she dearly loved playing. She is also survived by a brother, Robert Ulrich (Dona) of Marion, Ohio and a sister, Rita Hastings (Lonny) of Allendale, Michigan plus many nieces and nephews.
Her parents and a sister, Rebecca, preceded her in death.
Memorials may be made to Carolina Point Camp, 4000 Glady Fork Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 or SIM USA, 14830 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273-9105
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Carolina Point Camp, Brevard 4pm, Thursday, January 26 2023. An interment Service will be held at the Magnolia Memorial Gardens, Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Pineville, NC 28226.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 - 39
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
Ronda was born to Charles Kenneth Ulrich and Ethel Carol Minnick Ulrich on February 3rd, 1940 in Spenser, Indiana. She made profession of her faith as a middle schooler in the Methodist Church of Lowell, Michigan. After moving to Allendale, Michigan, Ronda attended Coopersville High School where she was a committed participant in Student Government, Drum Majorette of the High School band, acting in school plays and operas, a member of the choir and nurses club graduating as the salutatorian of her graduating class. While in high school, Ronda met her future husband, Alvin Glenn Vissers, whom she married on November 11, 1961
After graduation, she pursued her passion of serving others by enrolling in the nursing program at Blodgett Memorial Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating three years later as a Registered Nurse. Ronda pursued a career in nursing until the birth of her children when she enthusiastically became a full-time mother, housewife and volunteer in her church and local Young Life ministries. During these years she continued working as a part-time nurse, obtaining registration in Indiana, Texas, State of Victoria, Australia and North Carolina due to the many moves with her family. Ronda joyfully returned to full-time nursing employment to support the family during her husband’s graduate studies and his partnership in the establishment of a construction business in Southwestern Michigan.
Before Alzheimer’s, God led Ronda, her husband and family on an awesome, adventuresome life of living in 15 communities, in five states and on three continents. One of the first activities in a new community was to join a church where Ronda served her Lord through leadership in the women’s ministries, Sunday School and with her husband in youth group leadership. In four of these communities, Ronda was a key partner with her husband in establishing local Young Life committees that initiated active Young Life ministries. While nursing was her passion, the last seventeen years were spent as an administrative assistant to her husband in a new construction equipment business and later as they served together with SIM, a Christian Missionary organization, working in Ethiopia and the SIM International Office in Charlotte, NC. before moving to Rosman, NC to assist her husband in overseeing the construction of Carolina Point a Young Life Camp. Here you might find Ronda hosting visitors to the campsite or assisting in mowing the grass.
Ronda also had the gift of hospitality, hosting many groups and people in her home over the years for various events. That gift of gracious hosting was in many different venues from their mobile home to a large spacious home, Christmas carol singing on the front yard in the Australian outback, church halls and spacious banquet halls. After her local church, Young Life ministry consumed most of her volunteer time by serving on the local Young Life committee, a volunteer nurse for a season at the Young Life Southwind Camp, a Young Lives child caregiver at Washington Ranch in Washington plus hosting of four different international high school exchange students for one school year each.
Ronda is survived by her husband of 61 years, Alvin Vissers, four loving children, Alethea Vissers, of Fort Mill, SC., Eric Vissers (Carla) of Saugatuck, MI., Ian Vissers (Cynthia) of Laurel, MD. and Sara Vissers of Rosman, NC. She was blessed with six grandchildren that she dearly loved and with whom she dearly loved playing. She is also survived by a brother, Robert Ulrich (Dona) of Marion, Ohio and a sister, Rita Hastings (Lonny) of Allendale, Michigan plus many nieces and nephews.
Her parents and a sister, Rebecca, preceded her in death.
Memorials may be made to Carolina Point Camp, 4000 Glady Fork Rd., Brevard, NC 28712 or SIM USA, 14830 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273-9105
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Carolina Point Camp, Brevard 4pm, Thursday, January 26 2023. An interment Service will be held at the Magnolia Memorial Gardens, Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Pineville, NC 28226.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 - 39
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.