Class Year: 1960

Darrel Staat ’64

Darrel Staat ’64 had his fourth book, Student Focused Learning: Higher Education in an Exponential Digital Era, published on June 15, 2020. The book can be used by 21st century educators in higher education to learn what teaching methods already exist, different from the lecture/ discussion method, that support student focused learning. He joined the… Continue Reading →

Richard Timmer ’68

Richard Timmer ’68 is the chairman of the Chippewa County Road Commission and was elected president of the County Road Association of Michigan representing all 83 county road agencies. Continue Reading →

Barbara Timmer ’69

Barbara Timmer ’69 has been getting together regularly with her Sigma alumnae group, Sarah Baas ’71, Mary Browning ’69 Vanden Berg, Mary Piers ’68 George, Gail Parker ’72 Westerhof, Christy Zuverink ’69 Vanderhill, Jayne Olsen ’68 Geribo, Mary Schakel ’69, Bonnie Brandsma ’69 Mannes, Joyce Nelson ’67 Nilsen, Patti Dykstra ’69 Felix, Jill Leach ’70… Continue Reading →

Larry Dykstra ’60

Larry Dale Dykstra, born July 18, 1938, to Jack and Kay Dykstra, passed away on October 10, 2020, at the age of 82. He attended Holland Christian High School and graduated from Hope College; grew up at 14th St and Faith CRC in Holland and later directed choir at Maplewood Church. In 1966, he became… Continue Reading →

Lois Griffes ’60 Kortering

Lois Emorene (Griffes) Kortering, age 85, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She was born on July 7, 1934 in Muskegon Heights, MI to Orlon and Olive Griffes (McDonald). She graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1952. Her rendition of “Hot Canary” on the fiddle for… Continue Reading →

Ivan “Ike” VanderKolk ’60

Vander Kolk, Ivan “Ike” Ivan “Ike” Vander Kolk, age 81, went home to his Lord and Savior on August 14, 2020, where he was joyfully reunited with his son Brent. Ike was preceded in death by parents, Nelson and Marian, son Brent, and brother Roger. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 56… Continue Reading →

Thomas Bos ’61

Thomas G. Bos, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, businessman, Rotarian and captain passed away at his home in Malibu, California at the age of 81 on July 27, 2020. Thomas was born on March 8, 1939 in Holland, Michigan and married the love of his life, Jane, on August 16, 1991. Thomas brightened the day of… Continue Reading →

Sally Lou Houtman ‘61 Shimp

Sally Lou Shimp, age 81, of Holland, moved to heaven on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Born and raised in Holland, to Neal and Dorothy Houtman, Sally attended Holland High School and Eastern Michigan University. Sally worked at U of M Medical Center and in St. Joseph as a Psych OT. Growing up, Sally attended First… Continue Reading →

Elmer Veldheer ’61

Elmer Veldheer, 90, died peacefully in his sleep on June 10, 2020 after a long battle with dementia at American House of Holland. Elmer was a retired 5th grade teacher who loved kids and Wheel of Fortune. After retiring he returned to his passions for farming, hunting, and fixing things. Elmer never passed up a… Continue Reading →

Peter Hsu ’62

Peter M. Hsu, Age 81, passed away July 30, 2020. Born July 20, 1939 in Xiamen (Amoy), China, he graduated from The Diocesan Boys’ School in 1958 in Hong Kong. He emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States in 1958. Peter earned his BA from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in 1962. After earning… Continue Reading →

Jeffrey Jones ’62

Jeffrey J Jones, 79, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, with his wife Susan at his side in their Log Harbor, Lake Home in Okeechobee, Florida. Jeff was born on July 23, 1940 to Raymond and Sarah (Fowler) Jones in Warren, OH. He graduated from Charles F. Brush High School in 1958 and earned… Continue Reading →

Karen Coster ’62 Marter

Karen Marter, age 80, passed away peacefully August 2020 due to cancer. Karen was a member of the SYV Hiking Group for 16 years. She was also a gourmet cook, a dog lover, a hostess extraordinaire and a gardener with a ‘bright green thumb”. Karen was born in Holland Michigan; graduated from Lyndonville CHS in… Continue Reading →

James Staple ’64

Staple, James Allan 78, passed away peacefully in his home in Holland, MI on August 22. He is survived by his wife Louise (Garter); children Rebecca (Matthew) McFarland, Elizabeth McKenzie, David (Marta) Staple, former son-in-law Robert McKenzie; grandchildren Rachel and Maggie McFarland, Lilly McKenzie, Ramona and James Staple; sisters Jeanne (Frank) Klobucher, Joanne (Mike) Prince,… Continue Reading →

Thompson “Bill” “Smitty” Smith ’65

T. William Smith February 1, 1943 August 5, 2020 Thompson William Smith (a.k.a. “Smitty” and “Bill Smith”) was born on February 1, 1943 in Flushing, New York. He was a musician, teacher, wood worker, adventurer, sailor, husband, and friend. At the age of 77, he died on August 5, 2020. As the youngest of three… Continue Reading →

Karen Ward ’66 Jechoutek

Karen Margaret Jechoutek, of Midland, passed away June 23, 2020, in Austria. She was born May 19, 1944, in Marquette, Mich. to Gilbert and Alice (Peterson) Ward, and soon after moved to Midland with her family. Early on, she accompanied her family on trips to Europe to visit Swedish and British relatives. She attended Hope College,… Continue Reading →

Sandy Timmer ’66 Plakke

Sandra Kay Plakke, “ Sandy,” maiden name Timmer, was born July 6, 1943, died August 2, 2020, of Lewy body dementia. She was 77 years old. Sandy was born in Ypsilanti, MI, while her father was working at the Willow Run Bomber Plant. After the war, her family moved back to their home town of… Continue Reading →

Melvin Smith ’68

Melvin D. Smith, 73, of Granger, Indiana, passed away suddenly at home on Aug. 3, 2020. Mr. Smith was born on Sept. 20, 1946, in Hicksville, Ohio, to the late Virgil and Pauline (Warstler) Smith. Mel married his loving wife, Jane (Powell) Smith, on April 20, 1974, in South Bend. She survives in Granger. In addition to his wife of 46… Continue Reading →