Calvin News

A quiet spoken man. Someone who was easy to get along with. A man who didn’t waste words.

These are a few of the phrases used to describe former English professor Irvin Kroese, 78, who passed away on Monday, June 15, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Kroese served the college for 19 years (1968-1987) as a professor in the English department. English emeriti George Harper and Henry Baron served alongside Kroese for his entire 19-year tenure and say one of his biggest contributions to the college was being instrumental in establishing film studies.

“As an amateur [in film studies], he taught himself,” said Harper. “His ability to get on top of material in a hurry, he was very good at that. I was in on the beginnings of film teaching here along with him. He pioneered it and he grabbed me and another fellow to help him out; Irv was right on top of things, all the time.”

And his passion for film studies as an English professor was one indicator of how Kroese was a multi-faceted man. In fact, Baron remembers Kroese as someone who loved teaching poetry and who was passionate about music—especially opera—someone who liked to build things for his house, work in his garden and make his own wine.

“It wasn’t that he was just a professor sitting in his office and studying and teaching literature, he was a well-rounded man,” said Baron.

And a well respected colleague.

“He was very much liked by his colleagues. Irv could do no wrong,” said Harper.

“He was a quiet presence, but certainly a presence,” said Baron. “When he contributed to decision making in the department and so forth, it was well thought through, well reasoned. It was heard, listened to, respected.

“He was a friend I admired and respected because of the depth of his thinking and the goodness of his soul,” added Baron.

Kroese is survived by his wife Agnes, his sons Stephen (Lisa), Robert, and Benjamin (Margaret) and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on July 24, 11:00 a.m. at the Calvin Seminary Chapel.