Calvin Mourns Student Death

March 19 , 2008 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/kim-holst.htm

A Calvin College sophomore has passed away after battling a recurrence of leukemia. Kimberly Holst of Jenison died at home on Tuesday, March 18. She is the daughter of James and Dianne Holst.

Calvin will host a service of remembrance for Holst on March 19 at 10 am in its chapel. In addition visitation will be on March 20 from 5 to 8 pm and on March 21 from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm at Matthysse Kuiper Degraff Funeral Home in Grandville. The funeral service for Holst will be on March 22 at 11 am at Cottonwood Heights CRC in Jenison.

Members of the Calvin community said Holst will be missed.

"She was always smiling," said June DeBoer, who works in academic services at Calvin. "She was brave, courageous, a fighter. She was always upbeat and never willing to give up. And through everything she went through she stayed connected with a wonderful group of friends."

Holst was hoping to become a nursing major at Calvin and worked with nursing professor Judith Baker to make that dream a reality. Baker also will remember a fighter when she thinks of Holst.

"I always ask my new students to write for me a couple of things about themselves," Baker recalled, "and I remember Kim describing herself as someone who didn't easily give up. She also said she was friendly and a people person. All of those descriptions were true."

Baker remembered too that when she asked Kim to describe why she wanted to be a nurse her response was moving.

"I feel that I am being called towards nursing," she said. "I have had experience being a patient and interacting with nurses. I see myself being able to do the same job they did. I want the patient interaction."

The Calvin College on-line prayer log of the past few months tells some of Kim's story, but also tells the story of hope that members of the Calvin community, and all Christians, find in the living Christ.

As her parents and siblings wrote in a March 17 prayer request:

"We know that she will be better off but the goodbyes here are hard. She understands what is happening and is fearful. That is to be expected. Please pray for peace for all of us that we made the right decision. Pray that we have the strength needed to get us through the time she has left. And pray that she will be comfortable, that she will be able to enjoy her time at home, and not fear what is going to happen. Knowing that Christ is our ALL! Jim, Dianne, Kim, Chris & Nick."

-end-
Received on Wed Mar 19 09:30:29 2008