Jaclyn Diane Vander Ploeg

On Tuesday, October 11, beloved wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend Jaclyn Diane Vander Ploeg passed away at the age of 24. She is survived by her husband, Connor Bechler; parents Jon and Kerri Vander Ploeg; in-laws Curt and Shari Bechler; siblings Johanna and Benjamin Vander Ploeg; brother-in-law, Christian Bechler; and grandparents Jerry and Linda Vander Ploeg, Keith and Diane Eldred, and Sandy Weemhoff.

Born on July 17, 1998 to Jon and Kerri, Jaci (as she was known to her friends and family) grew up in Hudsonville, MI. Attending Hudsonville High School, she was drum major of the marching band and graduated with honors in 2016. She went on to attend Ferris State University, graduating with a degree in product design engineering technology. In 2021, after nine years of dating, she married Connor, her high-school sweetheart, and moved to Lexington, KY.

Jaci's passions were eclectic and innumerable: she was a musician, draftswoman, engineer, baker, seamstress, painter, illustrator, hiker, player of video games, reader, animator, and amateur videographer. Through each of these pursuits, she touched others' lives, sharing love and joy through her incredible creations and iridescent presence.

She was constantly driven by projects, always in the process of making gifts, reshaping spaces, or learning new skills, even if it sometimes meant putting previous projects on hold. Whether through pencil on paper, needle and fabric, mouse and keyboard, or hook and yarn, she realized the ideas of herself and others, creating objects both beautiful and functional.

Always family-oriented, Jaci grew up caring for her siblings and cousins and, given the choice, never missed a family get-together. While shy around strangers, Jaci was exceptionally sweet, tolerant, and fun, making friends wherever she went. Her smile could light up a room, and her laughter was irresistible. She loved playing games of all sorts and, as her friends can attest, was intensely competitive. She was always strategizing up until the game was over, and sometimes beyond.

While her passing was far too soon, Jaci lives on in the many lives she transformed. In both life and death, Jaci took great joy in giving to others, volunteering to be an organ donor. She never took herself or others for granted, always striving to learn and improve, always looking forward instead of backward.

A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Fair Haven Church, 2900 Baldwin St., Hudsonville, MI 49426, with visitation from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to service. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.cookcaresgrandville.com.