Class Year: 1950

Owen Christensen ’52

Owen Christensen ’52 90, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, with his loving family at his side. Owen was born in the Bronx, New York in 1927. He was the son of the late Ove and Helmi (Torppa) Christensen. He grew up in Flushing, Queens, New York and graduated from Flushing High… Continue Reading →

Randy Vande Water ’52

Randy Vande Water ’52 , age 88, of Holland, passed away Friday, June 22, 2018. Born March 5, 1930 in Zeeland, MI to William H. and Kathryn ( Kitty Van Ry) Vande Water, Randy and his family moved to Holland in 1937. He graduated from Holland High School in 1948. A 1952 Hope College alumnus, Vande… Continue Reading →

M. Patricia Moran ’53 Schwarz

M. Patricia Moran ’53 Schwarz, 86, of West Milford, NJ passed away on May 30, 2018. She was raised in Teaneck, NJ and graduated Hope College, Holland, MI with a degree in Sociology and Psychology. She lived in Glen Rock, NJ, Punta Gorda Isles, FL and Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. She worked at Hudson City Savings Bank,… Continue Reading →

Harris Verkaik ’55

Harris Verkaik ’55, died Thursday, April 5, 2018. He was the son of the late Harry and Ann Verkaik of Yucaipa, CA. He received his BA degree from Hope College and MDiv degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and a doctorate degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He served as vice president for… Continue Reading →

Sammie Pas ’56 Birdsall

The family of Sammie Jane (Pas) Birdsall announces she went to be with the Lord and Savior April, 4 , 2018. She will join her husband of 55 years, Fredric Raymon Birdsall. Sammie was a resident of Freedom Village. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Holland. Sammie was born July, 14 1934… Continue Reading →

John Winter ’57

John Winter ’57 John was born November 10, 1931 to Hartger and Katherine Winter in Allegan, Michigan. He graduated from Allegan High School in 1949 and from Hope College in 1957. John served from October 1952 to September 1954 in Korea in the U.S. Army. He married Emelyn Mae Curlee on June 7, 1958 in… Continue Reading →

William Noorlag III ’59

William Noorlag III ’59 passed peacefully in his sleep February 8, 2018 at the age of 79. Bill was born on March 17, 1938 in Chicago to Bertha and William Noorlag Jr. He attended Chicago Christian High School, where he developed his love of music with a trio called the “Hillfloppers”. His love of music was… Continue Reading →

Ruth DeGraaf ’50 Dirkse

In the fall of 1929, the daughters of three young Hope professors celebrated together their first birthdays, which were just two months apart. On Sept. 2, Jan Vander Borgh ’50 Ver Helst, Ann Wolters ’50 Fredrickson and Ruth DeGraaf ’50 Dirkse celebrated their 90ths surrounded by family and friends at the Warm Friend, where they all now live.  Lifelong… Continue Reading →

Ann Wolters ’50 Fredrickson

In the fall of 1929, the daughters of three young Hope professors celebrated together their first birthdays, which were just two months apart. On Sept. 2, Jan Vander Borgh ’50 Ver Helst, Ann Wolters ’50 Fredrickson and Ruth DeGraaf ’50 Dirkse celebrated their 90ths surrounded by family and friends at the Warm Friend, where they all now live.  Lifelong… Continue Reading →

Jan Vander Borgh ’50 Ver Helst

In the fall of 1929, the daughters of three young Hope professors celebrated together their first birthdays, which were just two months apart. On Sept. 2, Jan Vander Borgh ’50 Ver Helst, Ann Wolters ’50 Fredrickson and Ruth DeGraaf ’50 Dirkse celebrated their 90ths surrounded by family and friends at the Warm Friend, where they all now live.  Lifelong… Continue Reading →

Jack Hunt ’52

Jack Hunt ’52 of Kalamazoo, Michigan, read the spring issue’s story about Latif Jiji, who came to the U.S. from Iraq to attend Hope in the 1940s, with particular interest for a couple of specific reasons. For one, he had roomed with Latif, who helped him with algebra. For another, he, like Latif, found his future changed profoundly… Continue Reading →

Robert Saunders ’59

Robert Saunders ’59 reports that after 30 years, he sold his business, which he started, to a group of investment bankers and is retiring. He mentioned that it was more fun climbing the mountain than reaching the summit. He and his wife, Karen, are looking forward to spending more time at their lodge on John… Continue Reading →

Adrian Vander Sluis ’50

Adrian Vander Sluis ’50, age 93 of Holland, passed away on June 4, 2018 at Resthaven Care Center in Holland, MI. He was born on September 12, 1924 to Leonard and Jennie VanderSluis in Holland. Ade served his Country in the United States Army during WWII, from 1943 to 1946, where he was a Staff… Continue Reading →

Kenneth Decker ’51

Kenneth Decker ’51 was born February 3, 1928 in Danforth Illinois, the son of George Eddward Decker and Angie W. Booi Decker. He passed away Sunday June 17, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee Illinois. He married Eleanor Louise Moore on September 15, 1950. She passed away February 5, 1997. He was also proceeded… Continue Reading →

LaVerne Sikkema ’51

LaVerne Sikkema ’51, age 91, of Holland passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Lorraine Van Farowe. LaVerne was born near Morrison, Il on April 7, 1927. He graduated from Hope College and Cornell University. Later he attended Western Michigan University to obtain aviation training. Together… Continue Reading →

William Oakes Sr. ’53

William Oakes Sr. ’53, 95, of New Port Richey, Florida, formerly of Grand Haven, passed away August 1, 2018. He was born August 17, 1922, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He served in World War II in the Army, fought in the Pacific Theater and earned the Victory Medal, three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and many… Continue Reading →

James Dyke van Putten Jr. ’55

Dr. James Dyke van Putten Jr. ’55, 84, died Tuesday, October 2, 2018. For those who knew Jim well, they will remember a person who challenged his own paradigms, continually asking “ How do you know?” He resisted any one way of thinking. They will not remember him belittling people or calling them names or… Continue Reading →

Thomas Carey ’56

Thomas Carey ’56, 85, of Holland, Michigan, passed away August 16, 2018. Tom was born May 4, 1933, in Bravo, Michigan, to Hazel and John Carey and attended Holland Public Schools. After a year of playing football at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado his love for the lovely Julie Smith, now his wife of 61… Continue Reading →