Clara Lou Goodman

Clara Lou Goodman, a beacon of quiet strength and unwavering faith, transitioned peacefully from this world on October 27, 2025, in her beloved Alto, Michigan. Born on December 16, 1942, in Wayland, Michigan, she graced the lives of many with her gentle spirit and kind heart.

Clara was not just a woman; she was a tapestry woven with threads of love, laughter, and legacy. Her home was a sanctuary where the simple pleasures of life thrived—a well-tended garden flourished under her care, books opened windows to new worlds, a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be solved, and family gatherings that found their joy in the aromas of her cherished homemade dishes. Her potato salad and pistachio cake were not merely foods; they were delightful staples that brought family together, serving as the centerpiece of many treasured memories. The laughter shared over these dishes, and the stories that flowed with each bite, will resonate through generations as gifts from a devoted soul.

In the landscape of her personality, Clara was a powerful force of quiet resilience. While she radiated strength, she also embodied gentleness—an animal lover who filled her life with the presence of many beloved pets. Currently, her cherished cat, Prince, finds a new joyful home with her grandson in Ohio, carrying forward the love Clara bestowed upon him. Her heart, however, still holds the enduring echoes of her dogs—Shotzie, the spirited Manchester Chihuahua, and her Pomeranians: Heidi, Tara, Izzy, Pitty Pat, and TC, each of whom filled her days with laughter and companionship.

Throughout her life, Clara’s unwavering love for her family remained her guiding light. She was adored and survived by her children, Nikale Goodman (Stakenas), Veronica Thomas, and Bill (Melissa) Goodman; her sister, Anna Peterman; as well as 15 cherished grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with an additional one on the way. In every child and grandchild, her luminous spirit lives on, a reminder of her nurturing embrace and the depth of her love.

Clara’s heart journeyed hand-in-hand with her late husband, Clare Goodman, as they explored the sun-soaked landscapes of Arizona and embraced the adventures that life offered them both. Together they laid down roots at Tyler Creek Golf Course and Campground, where the echoes of shared moments with friends and family will forever linger in the air, enveloping the grounds like a warm embrace.

Yet, life is also a tapestry of loss, and Clara’s narrative is intertwined with the memory of those who precede her in eternal rest. Her daughter, Zoann Reigler, along with her parents—John Bruinsma and Myrtle Lamphear—and stepfather, Robert Lamphear, as well as her siblings—Johnny Bruinsma and Gene Bruinsma—are forever captured in her heart, their memories etched alongside her own.

Clara found solace in her faith, embracing the words of Psalm 23, which reflect both her journey and the promise of peace that accompanied her through life. As her family carries forward her legacy, they hold her spirit close, remembering a woman of influence and warmth whose vibrant essence remains alive through the lives of those she cherished most.

In this time of reflection, let us not mourn the absence of Clara Lou Goodman but rather celebrate the extraordinary light she brought into this world. Her love and wisdom will continue to inspire, reminding us all to find joy in the simple pleasures that life has to offer. Clara’s journey beyond is not an end, but a continuation, as surely, goodness and mercy shall follow her all the days of her life, and she shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.