Heritage

Robert Achterhof ’57
June 3, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lois Evenhouse Arthur ’63
April 2, 2018, Darien, Ill.

Ralph Baker ’49
June 29, 2018, Jenison, Mich.

Gerrit Boersma ’65
Aug. 2, 2018, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Ken Bouma ’65
Sept. 11, 2018, Grandville, Mich.

Ward Bouwsma ’56
Aug. 2, 2018, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Marguerite Brink ’48
May 25, 2018, Ripon, Calif.

Ralph Bronkema ’51
July 30, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Robert Brummel ’58
May 9, 2018, Ada, Mich.

George Buis ’60
July 18, 2018, Lansing, Mich.

Nancy Chaplya Chapel ’59
Sept. 14, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Robert Coie ex’57
Sept. 17, 2018, Cerritos, Calif.

Howard Cole ex’65
May 5, 2018, Valparaiso, Ind.

George De Jong ’40
April 8, 2018, Orland Park, Ill.

Richard DeMaster ’60
June 23, 2018, Mount Vernon, Wash.

Beverly Nieboer Deur ex’51
Aug. 10, 2018, Fremont, Mich.

Richard DeVos ex’47
Sept. 6, 2018, Ada, Mich.

Daniel DeVries ’58
June 6, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Joanne Verhage Disbrow ’63
Aug. 22, 2018, Lake Placid, Fla.

Harold Dorman ’50
Dec. 27, 2017, Skowhegan, Maine

Ruth Hanenburg Draut ex’52
July 20, 2018, Fairmont, Minn.

Pieternella Batts Faber ‘59
Oct. 6, 2018, Grandville, Mich.

Norma Omta Friends ex’54
Feb. 12, 2018, Sunnyside, Wash.

Louis Goudzwaard ex’42
Oct. 5, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Jacob Haagsma ’57
Oct. 6, 2018, Jenison, Mich.

Gordon Haan ’57
Aug. 1, 2018, Jenison, Mich.

James Harkema ’64
Oct. 9, 2018, Okemos, Mich.

Neal Helmus ’51
July 20, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Paul Heyboer ex’47
Feb. 5, 2018, Minneapolis, Minn.

Henry Hoekstra ’50
Sept. 15, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Jacoba Jorritsma Hofman ex’50
May 31, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Donald Holtrop ’61
July 10, 2018, West Olive, Mich.

Marilyn Michaels Howland-Derrington ’58
Sept. 26, 2018, Dekalb, Ill.

Philip Hubschmitt ’66
Aug. 24, 2018, North Haledon, N.J.

Idamae Kyser Issacson ’61
July 6, 2018, Port Huron, Mich.

Adeline Nydam Jolink ex’49
March 16, 2018, DeMotte, Ind.

Mary Pool Kaminskas ’62
Sept. 25, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Sjoerd Kiers ’60
July 17, 2018, Olympia, Wash.

Phyllis Barsema Klapmust ’61
Dec. 25, 2017, Grand Haven, Mich.

Beatrice Ledeboer Kleinhuizen ex’52
May 26, 2018, Willmar, Minn.

Greta Vander Haag Plaisier Knight
June 9, 2018, Frostproof, Fla.

Kenneth Koeman ’64
Aug. 8, 2018, Lynden, Wash.

Connie Vander Starre Kuik ’53
June 11, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Aletta Rus Kuipers ’37
May 15, 2018, Whitinsville, Mass.

Mary Van Dyk Medendorp ’67
Sept. 10, 2018, Los Alamos, N.M.

Edwin Mulder ’61
March 4, 2018, Munster, Ind

Robert Nason ex’33
July 9, 2018, Belding, Mich.

John Navis ’67
Sept. 9, 2018, Oswego, Ill.

George Pott ex’60
Sept. 5, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lauris Vanderlind Pruis ex’52
Aug. 12, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Donna Smith Quist-Dik ex’51
Aug. 9, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Harvin Reinink ’52
Sept. 6, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Marvin Roelofs ’65
July 25, 2018, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Helen DeVries Ruiter ’50
Sept. 7, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Harrison Sikkenga ’62
July 15, 2018, Muskegon, Mich.

Alice Klein Slager ex’49
July 16, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mildred Schuurman Sonnema ex’46
Jan 5, 2018, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Dale Sprik ex’56
Aug. 4, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Joanne Zoetewey Steenstra ex’48
Dec. 31, 2017, Hudsonville, Mich.

Richard Sytsma ’49
Jan. 14, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Emma Kuipers Talen ’48
Sept. 13, 2018, Chicago, Ill.

Doris De Kok TenElshof ex’58
Sept. 6, 2018, Hudsonville, Mich.

Marianne Peuler Tubergen ’58
Aug. 10, 2018, Fairhope, Ala.

David Tuuk ’49
July 11, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

David Tuuk '49

1926–2018

Considered one of Calvin’s legendary Knights, professor of physical education emeritus David Tuuk died July 11 at the age of 92. Tuuk faithfully served his alma mater for 36 years as a faculty member, coach, and men’s athletic director.

In 1952, Tuuk was appointed instructor in the physical education department. During his first year as an instructor, he served as head coach of the women’s basketball team, baseball team, and men’s track and field team while also teaching physical education coursework.

He later served as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team but proceeded to make an indelible mark as the men’s cross country and track and field coach.

Former Calvin alumni relations director Mike Van Denend was a member of Tuuk’s cross country and track and field teams in the 1970s. “I remember his dedication to the college, to Calvin athletics, and to every team,” he said. “He was a soft-spoken, but intensely earnest person. His deep convictions—about faith, Christian education, and the benefit of team sports—were underscored by his words and actions every day.”

In the 1970s, Tuuk added the duties of men’s director of athletics. In this role, he worked diligently to upgrade the athletics facilities at Calvin with the school adding new baseball and softball fields, a new natatorium, and later a new track surface.

Director of athletics Jim Timmer Jr. was a student-athlete near the end of Tuuk’s tenure at Calvin. “Coach Tuuk set the standard for future athletic directors at Calvin,” he said. “He was dedicated, tireless, invested, and savvy. Most of all he loved Calvin College and everything that the institution stood for.”

Tuuk is survived by his six children, Nancy Davis, Mary (Tom) Oosterhouse, Jack Tuuk, Robert Tuuk, James (Val) Tuuk, David (Vicki) Tuuk; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by Liz, his wife of 51 years.

Harry Van Dam ’61
Feb. 4, 2018, Edgerton, Minn.

Marten Vande Guchte ’53
Sept. 6, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Marten Vande Guchte ’53

1931–2018

Described as a man with “quiet good sense,” Marten Vande Guchte ’53, a longtime Calvin communication arts and sciences (CAS) professor, died Sept. 6, 2018; he was 87.

Vande Guchte spent his entire professional career—39 years—at Calvin, joining the teaching staff in 1954, immediately after graduating from Calvin with a degree in education and a budding interest in speech and audiology.

After a two-year hiatus to serve in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, he returned to teach at Calvin while also pursuing a master’s degree at Wayne State University and PhD at Michigan State University.

“Mart was an early example of the CAS department’s willingness to experiment, to try new things,” said former colleague Randy Bytwerk. “He taught an early course in television production, for example. Later, he turned his attention to speech pathology and audiology.

“Who would have thought that the small program he established, with students spending the first three years at Calvin and then transferring to Michigan State University, would become the remarkable program that it is today?”

Indeed from Vande Guchte’s vision beginning with just one class, “Speech Correction,” the SPAUD program now includes a master’s degree and an onsite rehabilitation clinic.

“Mart was the father of speech pathology and audiology at Calvin,” said Judy Vander-Woude, the current SPAUD director. “He labored ceaselessly to add more courses over the years for students to take. He was devoted to the CAS department, his colleagues, and his students. The speech pathology and audiology program is so grateful for the path he paved for the future.”

He is survived by his children, Kevin (Teresa) Vande Guchte, Beth Fulvi, and Kathi Vande Guchte; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Betty, his wife of 64 years.

Carol Smeelink Van Eldik’50
Aug. 24, 2018, Gainesville, Fla.

Mary Van Haitsma Van’t Hof ex’59
July 29, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Joan Vander Wal Visser ex’60
July 5, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Syburn Voortman ’51
June 19, 2018, Grandville, Mich.

Fern Spronk Wiersum ’66
July 21, 2018, Jenison, Mich.

1960s

Peter Borgdorff ex’69
May 21, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

1970s

Robert Blacquiere ’76
Oct. 5, 2018, Caledonia, Mich.

Mary Bomers ’70
Nov. 10, 2017, Alexandria, Va.

Robert Burggraaf ’79
Aug. 6, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

James De Bruyn ’74
June 24, 2018, Byron Center, Mich.

Marvin Elenbaas ’74
Oct. 4, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ben Essenburg ’70
March 16, 2018, Englewood, Fla.

Bonnie Dreyer Gilles ex’77
May 28, 2018, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Roberta Braaksma Hadley ex’74
Aug. 1, 2018, Comstock Park, Mich.

Janice Heys ex’73
Aug. 23, 2018, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Lois Rinsema Smits ’73
Aug. 12, 2018, Holland, Mich.

Robert Wondergem ’72
March 21, 2018, Johnson City, Tenn.

1980s

Lisa Nyenhuis Adams ’86
Aug. 11, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lisa Gort ex’84
Aug. 17, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Heidi Stavenger ex’83
April 16, 2018, Wheaton, Ill.

1990s

Sheryl Kuipers Engbers ’91
Sept. 10, 2018, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Elizabeth Kamerman Lynema ’96
Sept. 22, 2018, Byron Center, Mich.

2000s

Laina Rowe Jerdon ’03
Sept. 6, 2018, Madison, Wis.

Carrie Vaalburg Vermeer ’06
May 16, 2018, Medford, Ore.