Class Year: 1970

Daryl Johnson ’75

Daryl Johnson ’75 reports that after 30 years of painting and raising a family in New Hampshire, she has moved to New Orleans where she maintains an art studio near Bayou St. John. She’s joined by her husband of 40 years, Corky Benson. Continue Reading →

Dawn Erickson ’77 Brown

Dawn Erickson ’77 Brown and her husband, Ron, recently followed their daughter’s family to Indianapolis, Indiana, to be near them. She reports that although they loved living in Oregon, the pull of grandchildren was stronger. Continue Reading →

Bart Neckers ’77

Bart Neckers ’77 recently retired after a 40- year career as a family dentist in North East, Pennsylvania. He intends to spend more time with his spouse (Ann), children and grandchildren, and playing in senior softball leagues. Ann and Bart have traveled to seven European countries with Senior Softball USA to promote the sport through… Continue Reading →

Laura Boyd ’70

Laura Jean (Peters) Boyd passed away on July 8, 2022. Laura was born on September 5, 1948 in Chicago, IL to James and Mona (Stresenreuter) Peters. The family later moved from Chicago’s South Side to Homewood, IL where she grew up. Her life was forever changed when her father, a WW2 Purple Heart recipient, passed away when… Continue Reading →

Brian Gibson ’71

Brian Curtis Gibson, 74, of Holland Michigan passed away on June 14. Born in LaGrange, Illinois, near Chicago, he was the youngest of four brothers. Brian is remembered tenderly as a warmhearted, loving man. He worked for many years inHolland and Grand Rapids in social service, helping the poor and underserved. Brian served faithfully for years… Continue Reading →

Dale Muyskens ’71

Dale Edward Muyskens, 72, of Athens passed away, after a brief illness, on Tuesday March 1, 2022 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a Memorial Service immediately following at the First Congregational UCC, 410 N. Broadway St., Union City, with Pastor Don… Continue Reading →

Thomas De Cair ’72

Tom DeCair, 77, of St. Pete Beach, Florida, died June 12, 2022 following a brief illness. DeCair came to the Holland Sentinel in 1965 as an intern from Kalamazoo College and later served as the Sentinel’s sports editor. After service in the U.S. Army he returned to Holland to attend Hope College where he received his B.A. in… Continue Reading →

Robert Hoffman ’72

Mr. Robert Lee Hoffman, age 71, passed away with his family by his side on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. He was born in Muskegon on June 5, 1950, to Herman and Edna (Medema) Hoffman. He attended Muskegon Public Schools and then Hope College where he received a bachelor’s degree. On June 10, 1972, Bob married the former… Continue Reading →

Laurel Dekker ’72 Kempkers

After a four year battle with ALS, Laurel Beth VanHaitsma Kempkers, aged 71, of Hamilton, formerly of Scottville, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Friday, April 1, 2022. Laurel was born on Aug. 28, 1950 in Chicago, the daughter of Eugene and Adriana (Cook) Dekker and graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School with… Continue Reading →

Ronald Deenik ’73

Dr. Ronald Wayne Deenik, age 70, passed away at home on July 15 following an unexpected and quick bout with cancer. Dr. Deenik was a lifelong learner, teacher and mentor. Raised in South Holland, Illinois, Dr. Deenik graduated from Thornridge High School. He continued his education earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Hope College and a Doctor of Dental… Continue Reading →

Justine Emerson ’74

Justine Beth Emerson was born January 18, 1953 in Newark, New Jersey to Harold and Norma (Crawford) Emerson. Her family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania when she was 3 years old. She graduated from McDowell High School in 1970 and was renowned in high school as an athlete and a scholar. She played tennis, was on the gymnastics team,… Continue Reading →

Greg Gronwall ’74

Age 70, of Lawrenceburg, IN, passed away unexpectedly Sunday May 1, 2022. Greg was born in Tonawanda, NY on April 4, 1952, to John C. and Twila M. (Berger) Gronwall. He went to schools in Tonawanda and graduated class of 1970, and in 1974 graduated from Hope College, Holland, MI. After college, Greg became a Regional… Continue Reading →

Wes Wilhelmsen ’74

Wesley Carl Wilhelmsen, 68, an area resident since 1999 and formerly of Lake Dutchess in Holmes, died peacefully at his home on December 14, 2020. Born in Brooklyn on March 1, 1952, he was the son of Willy and Liv (Sunde) Wilhelmsen. Wesley received his Masters’ Degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Lehman College. He was employed as a… Continue Reading →

Mary Vande Bunte ’76 Ross

Mary Elizabeth (VandeBunte) Ross, of Bath, MI passed away surrounded by family on March 26, 2022, after a lengthy battle with leukemia. Mary’s childhood was shaped by the small neighborhood she grew up in, in Holland MI where she helped care for the children close by. She grew up surrounded by music and played Viola and… Continue Reading →

Robert Baker II ’79

Robert J. Baker, II Obituary Robert J. Baker, II 1/23/1957 ~ 4/21/2022 Born in Lansing, Michigan to Robert J. Baker and Donna E. High Baker. Bob is survived by sisters, Deborah (Mark) VanDeventer and Marian Baker and brother Michael (Elaine) Baker along with several nieces and nephews. Bob graduated from Harry Hill High School in Lansing, Michigan and graduated from Hope College in Holland Michigan. His… Continue Reading →

Harold Delhagen ’79

Rev. Dr. Harold M. Delhagen passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at the age of 64, after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Harold was a graduate of Hope College (1979), New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Divinity (1982), and McCormick Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry… Continue Reading →

Gene Marie Callahan ’73

Gene Marie Callahan ’73 has been named artistic director of the Battenkill Chorale, Cambridge, New York. Battenkill Chorale is an unauditioned mixed chorus which performs in Washington, Warren, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties. In addition to her piano and voice students, she conducts the chorus at Siena College, where she also teaches Basics of Singing and… Continue Reading →

Terrance Stevens ’73

Terrance Stevens ’73 retired from Pfizer in 2020 after a 44-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are enjoying traveling, golf, and grandchildren. Continue Reading →

Addy Whitehouse ’75

Addy Whitehouse ’75 published her second novel in the Dana Demeter Mystery series under the pen name A. F. Whitehouse. Her book, Signs of the Father, can be found on Amazon. Continue Reading →