Debra Elaine Kooienga

Debra Elaine Kooienga, 66, of Elkhart passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Raclin House Center for Hospice in Mishawaka after a battle with lung cancer.
She was born March 22, 1957 in South Bend to Mary Sanders and was adopted and raised by her grandparents, Ernest and Lillian Quinn.
She married her life partner, Terry Ellsworth in 1987 and he preceded her in death in 2012. She then married Lyle Kooienga on March 12, 2016.
Surviving is her husband, 3 daughters; Tara(Scott) Freel, Stacy(Charles) Gonyon of Elkhart, and Lisa(James) Dobkins of Middlebury, 2 sons; Robert(Autumn) Ellsworth of Bremen, and Willard Quinn of Elkhart; stepchildren she still counted as hers;  Heather(Danny)Cavinder and Terry(Veralynn) Ellsworth of South Bend, 20 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and a sister; Cathy Harmon of Elkhart. Preceding her in death is her birth mother, adoptive parents, life partner Terry, a brother Randy Sanders, a grandson, and a great granddaughter.
Debra loved her work as a housekeeper at Elkhart General Hospital the most. She enjoyed doing yard work, eating a great meal at Golden Corral, and absolutely loved spending time with her grandchildren, friends, and family.
Per her wishes, there will be no services, but the family will hold a celebration of life at a later time. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, you plant a Lilac bush in her memory as that was her favorite.
Elkhart Cremation Services has been entrusted with the arrangements

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Debra Elaine Kooienga, please visit our floral store.