Calvin News

Bill Rouse may have only spent a few weeks as a part of the Calvin community, but he made the most of his time on campus. 
 
Bill Rouse, 45, died on Thursday, March 27, 2025, as the result of a car accident on his way home from work. 
 
“Even though I had only known Bill for such a short period of time, it felt like I had known him for years, and many others have expressed the same feeling,” said Gary Mundt. 
 
Mundt, the facilities director for Calvin University, was Rouse’s direct supervisor and was on the team that hired him back in February 2025 to work in the heating and cooling division. 
 
“Bill was hired to mainly work on the refrigeration equipment here at Calvin,” said Mundt. “There are quite a few walk-in coolers/freezers in the dining halls, Prince, Peet’s, and in the concession stands around campus. He diligently worked on this equipment to fix issues and do preventative maintenance. Because of his work, the equipment that he did work on is in better shape than when it was before he started.” 
 
That statement is not only backed up by those in Calvin Dining Services (CDS), who benefitted most from his hard work, but it also runs much deeper. It wasn’t the equipment he worked on that benefitted most, it’s the people he worked alongside. 
 
“His tenure at Calvin was brief, but impactful,” said Luis Aljona, who oversees the CDS team. “Bill was incredibly understanding, flexible, and what I’d call a connective servant leader. He was very attentive to needs. His expertise and character certainly left a lasting impression on our team.” 
 
Though Mundt describes Rouse as soft-spoken and gentle, he also notes his positive and infectious personality and the source of his joy. 
 
“I could tell that he had a deep faith in God. He spoke freely about his faith in conversations with me,” said Mundt. “Because of this, I know that he is in a better place right now, as hard as that is for us to understand as mortals on this Earth.” 
 
“Bill’s passing is a significant loss to our community,” said Aljona. 
 
Rouse is survived by his wife Jhoana, son Diego, mother Donna, siblings Robin Riddle, Brian (Kim) Kitley, Renea (Scott) Beutler, Sha-ree Miller, and extended family members.

Read the full obituary.