Class Year: 1970

Beverly Kerlikowske ’76 Rose

Beverly Kerlikowske ’76 Rose retired from Wells Fargo’s commercial banking division in San Francisco and moved with her husband to a small farm in Portland, Oregon. She reports that she is at work on her second novel, tending flower, herb and vegetable gardens, and raising a few chickens. Continue Reading →

John Vander Kolk ’78

John Vander Kolk ’78 started Touch of Hope International, a non-profit organization that provides dental work for Syrian and Lebanese refugees. Dutch ’74 and Cyndy Hartman ’74 Nyboer recently helped out through a church in Zahle, Lebanon. Continue Reading →

Karen Chase ’70 Edyvean

Karen Chase Edyvean of Schenectady passed away peacefully on Monday April 6, 2021. She was the daughter of the late Dorothea and Arthur Chase. She was the beloved wife of David Edyvean. She was a graduate of Draper High School and attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan and Russell Sage College. Karen was a teacher… Continue Reading →

Bonita “Bonnie” Everts ’70

Bonita “Bonnie” Everts, 73, formerly of Westfield, N.Y., passed away peacefully Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minn., with her loving family and friends at her side. Bonnie was born March 19, 1948 in Westfield, N.Y ., the first of four children, born to the late Marshall Everts and Patricia “Pat” Halstead Everts. From early on Bonnie had a… Continue Reading →

Robert De Vries ’72

DeVries, Robert Peter 2/10/1947 – 7/28/2020 Traverse City Robert DeVries passed away very suddenly from a pulmonary embolism on July 28th. Bob was a loyal husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him. Per his wishes, cremation has taken place. Continue Reading →

Karl Esmark ’72

Rev. Dr. Karl Reed Esmark, died on Friday, December 18, 2021 from Covid-19 in Syracuse, NY.  My husband received his Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Education from Rutgers.  He served in several churches throughout his life, and retired from ministry due to ill health in 2017.  He also… Continue Reading →

Ellen ten Hoor ’72 Fitch

Ellen Sue (ten Hoor) Fitch, 70, died suddenly and unexpectedly at her home in Laketown Township on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Ellen was a mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Ellen was born February 25, 1950 in Holland, Michigan to Henry and Beatrice (Visser)… Continue Reading →

Carl Gomes II ’72

Carl II was born Dec. 29, 1950 in Springfield, Illinois, to Lois Ruth and Carl Wilbert Gomes. Carl, an Eagle Boy Scout and former enlistee of the Air National Guard during the Vietnam era, was a graduate of Oakmont High School, Oakmont, PA and earned a BS in Biology from Hope College, a BS and a… Continue Reading →

Thomas Kapral ’74

Thomas Andrew Kapral, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the age of 68. He passed at his home in Pearland, Texas, in the care of his wife and family. Thomas  was born on January 13, 1953 in Abington, Pennsylvania to Sonia (Vaught) Kapral  and Joseph Kapral. He grew… Continue Reading →

Rudell “Rudy” Broekhuis ’75

Rudy Broekhuis, age 67, of Fennville, unexpectedly passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Holland Hospital. Rudy was a member of Christ Memorial Church and former member of Park Christian Reformed Church. He worked at Herman-Miller for 19 years in various capacities and was an international traveler and businessman as well as co-founder and Vice… Continue Reading →

Jodi Japinga ’75 Syens

Jodi Sue Syens, 67, passed away peacefully in her home on February 5, 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer. Jodi was born on July 20, 1953 in Holland, Michigan to Norman “ Bunko” and Shirley Japinga. Keeping in line with the family passion for Hope College, Jodi earned her B.A. in Political Science from… Continue Reading →

Janette Vandenberg ’79 Aardema

Janette Vandenberg Aardema (Jan), age 63, of East Grand Rapids passed away on Monday, May 17 after a fearless battle with cancer. Jan was born and raised in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and Hope College in Holland, Michigan with a Business Degree. She spent 10 years as… Continue Reading →

Nancy Forest-Flier ’71

Nancy Forest-Flier ’71 continues to work as a freelance Dutch-English literary translator. Her most recent projects include A Philosophy of Madness: The Experience of Psychotic Thinking, by Wouter Kusters, published in 2020. The Dutch original, Filosofie van de waanzin, won the Socrates prize for best book on philosophy in the Netherlands in 2015. Also The… Continue Reading →

Nancy Milne ’74 Gus

Nancy Milne ’74 Gus has retired after more than 35 years as business manager with the natural resource ecology lab and department of ecosystem science and sustainability at Colorado State University. Continue Reading →

Scott Lenheiser ’74

Scott Lenheiser ’74 reports that he is still practicing law in the Greater Detroit/Oakland and Wayne counties primarily in businessbusiness planning and estate planning areas. His Ford Taurus station wagon has reached 136,000 miles and is going strong. He attended the North American Society of Pipe Collectors show in Columbus, Ohio, in August and caught… Continue Reading →

Conley Zomermaand ’77

Conley Zomermaand ’77 began his 13th interim ministry assignment in August, serving as interim pastor/head of staff at the First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina. He reports that he was pleased to find that other Hope College and Holland personalities made it to Aiken before he did. It’s been a banner year for his… Continue Reading →

James DeHorn ’70

James L. DeHorn, age 73, of Hudsonville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. James proudly served our country as a member of the United States Marine Corp as a Staff Sergeant. James taught at Allendale High School for 40 years as an English teacher, coached football for 25… Continue Reading →