Dr. Pamela Jan Haugestuen-Zuidgeest
courtesy photo
Pam Haugestuen-Zuidgeest
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Dr. Pamela Jan Haugestuen-Zuidgeest, M.D., was born on July 19, 1959, and passed away on Feb 22, 2015.
Pam went to be with her Lord after a courageous battle with brain cancer that spanned 20 years. She is an inspiration to her friends and family for her beauty inside and out. Pam lived each day fulfilling her primary purpose in life, which was to raise two wonderful children. She achieved respect and admiration in the medical field working as a physician in a variety of areas: emergency medicine, occupational medicine, and most recently addiction medicine. Pam took pride in her ability to help others with care and compassion. Fondly referred to as “Dr. Z,” she always had a kind, light humor, which lit up the room and surely softened her patients’ loads. Her quiet faith in God and our beloved Lord Jesus brought her strength and comfort.
Pam was raised in Montana and she loved the beautiful mountains and ‘Big Sky.’ After graduating Arlee High School as Salutatorian, she completed her undergraduate studies at Montana State University in Bozeman. She then traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to attend medical school. She said the best thing about New Mexico was the fact that she had a ski pass to Taos Mountain to ski. Pam loved to ski and later also took up tennis for fun.
Pam went east for her residency and was very interested in Ophthalmology. In 1990 she married Robert Zuidgeest and decided to practice medicine in Grand Rapids. She started in the ER at Blodgett Hospital. In 1994, Pam and Bob were blessed with their daughter Bridget Gabrielle and in 1997, their son Walter Dean. Pam has focused her last 21 years on her children. She was very proud of both of them and her love for them was endless.
Pam’s parents Warren and Carol Haugestuen preceded her in death.
She is survived by her children Bridget Gabrielle Zuidgeest and Walter Dean Zuidgeest; her former husband Robert Zuidgeest; two stepchildren, Ginger Renee Colononos (Ben), and Sean Jeffrey Zuidgeest; two sisters, Jill Ursua of Arlee and Jodi Rio (Anthony) of Stevensville; nephews Anthony (Brittney) Rio, Kieran Ursua, Aaron Rio, and Macoy Zukowski; and nieces Kaylina (Joshua) Clarkin and Delaney Zukowski. She has a loving extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that are too numerous to list.
Celebration of Life was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on the East Beltline, 3215 Four Mile Road NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49525. Pastor Paul E. Kuhlman officiated. Those wishing to offer an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Susan G. Koman Foundation, Michigan Affiliate, 3949 Sparks Drive SE, Suite 100, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546.
