Obituary for Kay E. Kaminga

Kay Kaminga, age 68, of Portland passed away Tuesday December 2, 2025, surrounded by her children.

Kay was brought up in the Christian faith and strived to live as Christ did. She graduated from East Christian High in Grand Rapids in 1975 and went on to vastly broaden her horizons and experience the world beyond her west Michigan upbringing. Kay was very artistic throughout her childhood and originally went to Eastern Michigan University to study photography. Later on, she pursued her passion of helping people and earned a degree in nursing from Michigan State University and a masters in nursing from Grand Valley State.

Kay was a nurse for over 30 years at Sparrow in Lansing, she was very proud particularly of her work in the burn unit and her time in education. Passing down her wealth of knowledge was something Kay was passionate about. In her later years, with more and more time spent in the hospital, she got to meet so many of the young nurses who had learned from the teaching materials she had created.

From road trips to camping, Kay always had an adventurous spirit and a can-do attitude. She could start a fire without lighter fluid and drive an enormous camping van through the winding, hilly roads of San Francisco. Kay loved to travel, both on her own and with her three kids. She was determined to show her children their country and in her time visited all but four of the United States.

Kay took the most pride in her family and found no greater joy than a simple game night surrounded by loved ones. She is preceded by her beloved mother and father, Gracine and Jim and is survived by her children Henry, Charles and Grace Devlin; her brother, Paul (Michele) Kaminga; nieces and nephews, Andrew, John Paul, and Elizabeth Kaminga, Molly and Nina Beigelman, Paulina (Jean) Devlin, Liz (Zach) Short, and Theresa; great nephews and niece, James, Francis, Hank, and Theo; and many more friends and loved ones.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Friday, December 12, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. Bridge Street, Portland. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude or Gift of Life, Michigan. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.