Holly Renae Elzinga, age 42 of Hudsonville, MI, in God’s providence, was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior on November 16, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on January 26, 1983 to Ken and Machele Elzinga, Holly was the second of their five children. She grew up in West Michigan and attended Heritage Christian School in Hudsonville, later graduating from Covenant Christian High School as valedictorian. Holly continued her studies at Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois, earning a degree in community art and missions. Her gifts in art, music, and ministry shaped her life’s work.
Holly is survived by her parents Ken and Machele Elzinga; her siblings and their families: Jason and Karen Elzinga (Trevor, Ben, Justin, Leah, Kent, Derek, Kayla, Grace); Rachel and Jordan Eldersveld (Dani, Adaline, Rivers); Nick and Kathryn Elzinga (Alice, Sam, Lucy, James, Charlotte); Tyler and Saydee Elzinga (Molly, Rosie, Darcee). Holly cherished her nieces and nephews and found joy in creating and sharing art with them. Holly is also survived by her grandfather, Bernie Lubbers; and many extended family and friends.
Holly used her God-given talents in many ways and was especially gifted in art and music. She had a remarkable ability to notice beauty in the world that others often missed and brought that beauty to life through her drawings, paintings, and other artistic expressions. She also shared her musical gifts through singing and by playing the piano and French horn.
Holly had a deep love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a special connection with the people of Uganda. Her first visit came during her senior year at Wheaton College, where she shared God’s Word and taught local children to create goods they could sell to support their needs. Holly embraced simplicity in her own life so she could give generously to others.
Holly’s heart remained in Uganda after that first trip. She returned many times and eventually started Fair Earth, a purpose-driven business that partnered with Ugandan artisans. She designed a product line that included jewelry, clothing, and other merchandise, collaborated with the craftsmen and women who produced them, and sold these pieces in the United States to help provide sustainable income for those she cared deeply about.
While in Uganda, Holly lived with the Opio family, whom she lovingly considered her African family. She treasured her close relationship with Dan and Jannet Opio, and with their children—Joshua, Joel, Jona, and Rebecca—who held a special place in her heart and enriched her life greatly.
Though Holly battled addiction in her later years, her life testifies to the redeeming power of God’s grace. In Christ, she found forgiveness and peace, and today she rests fully healed in His presence. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Philippians 1:21
Holly will be remembered for her compassion, creativity, faith, and deep love for people. Her legacy as a woman who loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and shared His love with others lives on through the lives she touched, the beauty she created, the kindness she showed to those in need, and her steadfast devotion to God.
Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2025 at Cook Funeral Home (Byron Center Chapel), 2067 84th St. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Friendship CRC, 190 100th St. SE, Byron Center, MI 49315, with visitation from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. The link for the livestream is: (https://friendshipcrc.online.church/). Alternatively, you may go to the church website and click the “Worship Livestream” link: (https://friendshipcrc.org/).
Memorial contributions may be made to Women At Risk (https://warinternational.org/) or Set Free Ministries (https://setfreemin.org/).
The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresbyron.com in their online guestbook.
First time meeting at West Fest 2007 Holly, AZ, Viva Nova and Greg Tovar
2008 Jeff and Melissa Windisch’ s Wedding
Our campsite at Camp Sweet Minnihaha September 2008. It was “HOLLIED”!
Hollys Finial Social Media Message
You are loved
I am writing this this to create awareness about spiritual abuse. In case you were born into a cult, a cultish like church, decided to follow a spiritual guru, were convinced that you had to give your power away to an institution, religion, guru, shaman, church leader, or any other type of spiritual oppression, I am sorry, and it is not your fault. Here is the TRUTH: if you are alive right now on this planet, you are here for a purpose. You are divinely loved. You are a divine masterpiece. God skillfully knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are one of a kind. You are unique. Every part of you has a purpose. I don’t know what is wrong with the human spirit that we try to build up structures of control to limit our divine essence, but we do it. Religion is the opiate of the masses. I always felt like a caged bird growing up. I couldn’t wait to spread my wings. And I found a whole new world of freedom, wonder, excitement, joy, but also deep sorrow and suffering. The larger my heart grew, the more I could feel, in both directions. I have experienced bliss that I cannot even describe, and I have also experienced deep sorrow and pain. But I would not trade my experiences for anything. Everything in my life has helped me learn and grow, to understand, to empathize, to understand deep truths that are cherished in the golden caverns of my heart. Obviously a long the way I got a bit lost. We all do. Life is a fantastic journey, filled with hope and wonder, but also grief, sadness, trauma, and all of the ways that we try to self medicate. But it’s ok. God is full of grace and mercy and forgiveness, and will always be there to help you. You can always start again. Every step forward is the right direction. Don’t ever give up, don’t ever give your power away to any institution, religion, or guru. You are the apple of God’s eye. He loves you unconditionally. He is your biggest fan. Don’t listen to the voices that tell you you are too far gone. Those of us who have gone deep into the shadows have some of the most inspiring stories of courage and hope. Who the Son sets free is free indeed! Be blessed everyone and be free!
Holly left me a cryptic voice message on Sunday November 2nd 2025 while I was on my return from Tampa. It was brief and dramatic as usual but this one was a true goodbye. She said it was the last I’d ever hear from her and that she was preparing to die. This did not sit well with me. I had assumed it was a suicide call because I tend to get those from time to time.
After several attempts to reach back out to her on Monday November 3rd we actually had a conversation and she told me that the doctors told her she had 2 weeks to live. We talked a little about that and a lot about our previous and intense romantic relationship that lasted from August 2008 till she ended it from an email from Africa in January 2009 the same day that my grandfather passed away. It was an abrupt end but our friendship would continue and we’d stay in touch till her recent passing.
In our 6 month relationship we shared many adventures whether they be road trips, camping or just spending time together in the city. We cooked many dinners for each other and shared more than plenty of drinks. Something she easily outdid me in and would eventually lead to health issues. She met my good friends and my more famous rock star friends in that time. All were intense and some bordered on dramatic but we always managed to laugh. We introduced each other to music and art and I worked more than a few of her vendor booths helping set up and sell her “Fair Earth” creations.
FAIR EARTH is a socially conscious and earth-friendly company that produces and markets high quality FAIR TRADE merchandise from East Africa. Our designs blend contemporary style with ethnic flair, and are produced by local artisans with sustainable local materials. We abide by Fair Trade principles by paying artisans a living wage and maintaining consistent relationships with them. We are working towards a sustainable, poverty-free world.
Fair Earth is dedicated to advocating fairness and equity in the consumer market, producing high quality products, and putting people first.
I took her to a few of my events and concerts and she kept my damned Kid Rock CD’s for long after our romance had ended. Those CD’s stayed in her cars trunk CD player from our very first road trip to go camping. 6 months after she broke off our romance I took her to see Leonard Cohen live at the Chicago Theater
From CHAT GPT:
Alex Zander, the founder and publisher of MK Ultra Magazine, did call a Leonard Cohen concert review he wrote the “Alex Zander Cohen called Leonard Cohen concert review” in a self-referential manner.
The review, which was for a Leonard Cohen concert, was mentioned as an in-joke on the Leonard Cohen Forum, where a user jokingly summarized the review in a way that mimicked Alexander Trocchi’s writing style, a Scottish poet and novelist who had an intense friendship and shared experiences with Leonard Cohen.
The actual content of the review is described humorously by a forum user, not as a standard, detailed review, but as a short, abstract snippet: “this was music good with pleasant tune and pretty girls. lots of people wore hats and dark suits. the man in the centre of stage was old and he kneel a lot as his legs must be tired. people in crowd on seats they clap and shout hooray. everyone happy to see old man and go home with many nice smiles”.
The original review likely appeared in MK Ultra Magazine or was mentioned on its related radio show/podcast, but the full, original text is not publicly available in the provided search results.
Our final road trip together was for my birthday in 2008 in New Glarus where I spend many of my birthdays. Then I saw her just after Christmas of that year when she returned home from Holland MI where she spent the holiday with her family.
I’m sad that she’s gone and cherish our friendship which lasted much longer than our romance. She’s truly one of a kind.
