Heritage
Eunice Kooi Adams ’50
Sept. 12, 2016, Fruitport, Mich.
Marvin Alberda ’47
Nov. 21, 2015, Redlands, Calif.
Alice Kruithof Baker ’46
March 9, 2016, North Haledon, N.J.
Irving Barker ’56
Jan. 19, 2016, Hudsonville, Mich.
Anne Ferwerda Batts ex’56
July 14, 2016, Jenison, Mich.
Joan Zandstra Berends ’47
Aug. 1, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Peter Bol ’63
March 21, 2016, Grand Haven, Mich.
Helen Bolt ’39
Sept. 22, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Melvin Boonstra HON
Sept. 11. 2016, Zeeland, Mich.
Vesta DeYoung Bos ’54
Aug. 27, 2016
Henry Bouma ’53
Sept. 15, 2016, Kentwood, Mich.
Grace Postma Brink ’47
Aug. 26, 2016, Allendale, Mich.
Jacqueline Dancer Brooks ’53
Jan. 13, 2016, Binghamton, N.Y.
June Buteyn DeBoer ’57
April 19, 2016, St. John, Ind.
Raymond DeGraaf ex’42
Sept. 11, 2016, Wyoming, Mich.
Deane Reynolds DeGroot ’55
March 18, 2016, Battle Creek, Mich.
Howard De Haan ’49
Aug. 4, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Joanne DeBoer DeJong ex’42
Nov. 15, 2015, Lynden, Wash.
Joyce Meekhof DeKraker ’59
July 26, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Edwin Dice ’60
Aug. 19, 2016, Pueblo, Colo.
Beverly Klooster
Beverly Klooster spent her entire teaching career at Calvin—nearly four decades. She was the first female biology professor at the college, beginning in 1961 teaching nutrition.
When the college needed a microbiologist, however, Klooster stepped up and returned to Michigan State for a PhD in that field.
The vast majority of her 39-year career focused on microbiology. Klooster died Oct. 17; she was 78.
“What always impressed me about Bev was her incredible devotion to her students,” said biology professor David Koetje, a former student of Klooster’s. “She cared about their development as whole persons and worked tirelessly to ensure that their education was relevant and sufficiently rigorous so that they were prepared to tackle the world’s challenges.”
In addition to her dedication to the biology department, she also served for more than 15 years as a faculty athletics representative and on the Board of Control of the MIAA.
“Bev was a strong advocate for Calvin athletics, but especially for women’s athletics,” said Calvin women’s athletic director Nancy Meyer. “Bev was a former athlete herself at Calvin in a time when female athletes were not much more than an afterthought.”
She is survived by her brother Alex (Beverly) Klooster, two nephews and a niece.
Frances Dykstra Doezema ’46
March 30, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Dorothy Dyk ’55
Sept. 2, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Donald Dykehouse ’54
Oct. 2, 2016, Hudsonville, Mich.
Donald Eggebeen ’50
Aug. 23, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Dawn McCullough Fowler ’66
March 29, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Donald Groen ’49
April 28, 2016, Visalia, Calif.
Marilyn Drukker Heetderks ’53
Sept. 14, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Gertrude Bytwerk Kramer ’47
Aug. 3, 2016, Spring Lake, Mich.
Lois Hoeksema Kregel ’46
July 24, 2016, Jenison, Mich.
Lois Holtrop Kuipers ’46
Sept. 18, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Mildred Lamberts ’36
Aug. 27, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Bernard Langerhorst ’58
July 3, 2016, Caledonia, Mich.
Peter Lubben ’60
Jan. 1, 2016, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Thomas O’Hara ex’56
May 9, 2016, Lexington, Mich.
Charles Orlebeke ’57
July 19, 2016, Winnetka, Ill.
Edward Paauwe ’66
Aug. 11, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
John Poel ’51
Sept. 23, 2016, Hudsonville, Mich.
Lois Bolt Poppen ’58
Nov. 17, 2015, Ada, Mich.
Myra Frens Ratering ex’58
Sept. 27, 2016, Zeeland, Mich.
Evelyn Huizenga Rietberg ’54
Aug. 6, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Mentey Bosch Slager ’49
July 16, 2016, Birmingham, Ala.
Carolyn Bishop Steenstra ’52
July 29, 2016, Hudsonville, Mich.
Martin Stegink ’51
Sept. 28, 2016, Zeeland, Mich.
Leonard Sytsma ’50
May 8, 2016, Elmhurst, Ill.
Marian Van Halsema TenHave ’50
April 13, 2016, Comstock Park, Mich.
Henry Vanden Heuvel ’59
Sept. 25, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Carol Schuitema Van Drunen-Aalderink ex’48
Sept. 26, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Clarence Van Ens ’42
Aug. 16, 2016, Palm Bay, Fla.
Winifred Omta Van Hill ex’56
Aug. 20, 2016, Wyoming, Mich.
Henry Van Mouwerik ’48
Oct. 9, 2015, Redlands, Calif.
Everet Van Malsen ex’57
Aug. 6, 2016, Holland, Mich.
Rozena Poortenga Van Reken ’40
Oct. 22, 2015, Naperville, Ill.
Bernard Van’t Hul ’53
Aug. 21, 2016, West Newton, Mass.
Gerald Vellenga ’48
Aug. 6, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Andrew Versluis ’50
Aug. 10, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Elonna Osinga Visser ex’49
April 18, 2016, Seattle, Wash.
Shirley Boersma Visser ’49
Dec. 13, 2015, Wyoming, Mich.
Ken Volkers ’64
Sept. 22, 2016, Charleston, W.V.
Clarence Vredevoogd ’50
Sept. 10, 2016, Jenison, Mich.
Delores “Dee” Steenhoek Warmink ’62
Oct. 26, 2015, Georgetown, Texas
John Weemhoff ’49
Sept. 20, 2015, Hudsonville, Mich.
Robert Wessell ’50
Nov. 15, 2015, Evart, Mich.
Marcia Brandt Wierda ’62
July 17, 2016, Hudsonville, Mich.
Clifton Orlebeke
Clifton Orlebeke was a man of many interests, beginning with his education, which started with a degree in engineering and ended with a doctoral degree in philosophy.
It was philosophy that brought him back to his alma mater to teach after graduating in 1948. He spent 35 years in the department, teaching a broad spectrum of classes and serving as the department chair. Orlebeke died Oct. 13. He was 89.
His main areas of interest were ancient philosophy and philosophy of science. He was especially drawn to Plato and Socrates.
“Clif was one of the professors who persuaded me that philosophy was my calling, because there was nothing more important for a young Christian to think about,” said Calvin philosophy professor David Hoekema. “Under his guidance I first studied the early Greek philosophers, and with his encouragement I began a lifelong friendship with Socrates and Plato, a relationship I have tried to share with my students over the years.”
Orlebeke also had a lifelong interest in teaching writing and literature. This led to a stint as the editor of the Christian Scholar’s Review, a leading publication for interdisciplinary scholarship grounded in Christian commitment.
He is survived by his children—Kathy Orlebeke, Tim (Erin) Orlebeke, Sue Berghoef and Rebecca (Greg) Dekker—and eight grandchildren.
1960s
Wilma Bouma ’67
Aug. 1, 2016, New Westminster, British Columbia
Chris DeJong Olson ’69
April 7, 2016, Portage, Mich.
Ina Schut Hellwarth ex’67
Aug. 24, 2016, Grandville, Mich.
Winnie Anema Klop ’69
Aug. 9, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
1970s
David Feenstra ex’75
Dec. 10, 2015, Allendale, Mich.
Ronald Flietstra ’71
Nov. 21, 2015, High Point, N.C.
Leah Kooyers Heidema ’75
Aug. 7, 2015, Reno, Nev.
Charles Kieft ex’71
Aug. 7, 2016, Spring Lake, Mich.
David Post ’70
Aug. 1, 2016, Charlottesville, Va.
Halina Poplawska ’73
July 14, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Victoria Avink Purgiel ’77
Aug. 10, 2016, Hastings, Mich.
Clarence Slomp ’74
July 18, 2016, Grand Rapids, Mich.
David Smith ’70
April 9, 2016, Barrie, Ontario
Sharon Westmaas Verduin ’71
Feb. 4, 2016, Ludington, Mich.
Marla Boelkins Warren ex’77
March 20, 2016, Mason, Mich.
1980s
Hilda Dorff Duca ’81
June 6, 2016, Ashland, Mass.
Tim Koster ’83
Sept. 21, 2016, Crete, Ill.
William Wyngaarden ex’80
July 19, 2016, Naperville, Ill.
Maryke Venema Weidman ’83
June 24, 2016, Cass City, Mich.
1990s
Jeff Boerma ’95
Sept. 18, 2016, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Rochelle Lamer VanderPloeg ’91
Sept. 16, 2016, Caledonia, Mich.
2000s
Kevin Witte ’02
Sept. 27, 2016, Holland, Mich
