Class Year: 1970

Brenda Heath ’77 Vander Meulen

Brenda Heath ’77 Vander Meulen of Holland, Michigan, is part of the Center for Leadership at Hope, teaching The Trusted Advisor and coaching CFL student consultants. She is a member of the board of directors for Good Samaritan Ministries in Holland, working to end poverty and homelessness in the community, all while still having her… Continue Reading →

Sylvia Haug ’77 Verdonk

Sylvia Haug ’77 Verdonk of South Haven, Michigan, retired from teaching high school mathematics for Coloma Schools in Coloma, Michigan, in 2010 after 32 years. She has since taught mathematic classes for Lake Michigan College and has taken on duties as director of religious education at St. Basil Catholic Church in South Haven, Michigan. Continue Reading →

Bob Niedt ’78

Bob Niedt ’78 of Fairfax, Virginia, is an online editor at Kiplinger Washington Editors, the renowed Washington, D.C., based publisher of print and online business forecasts and personal finance advice, including the monthly magazine Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands nationwide. Bob lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Linda. He reports that they explore the… Continue Reading →

Cynthia Wray ’70 Dannenberg

Cynthia Wray ’70 Dannenberg, 68, former Holland resident recently residing in Hiram, Ga., went to be with her Lord on April 17, 2017, after a battle with cancer. Cindy loved the Lord, His Word, prayer and world missions. After graduating Hope College and Columbia Graduate School of Bible & Missions, Cindy entered the mission field… Continue Reading →

William Wolters ’72

William Wolters ’72 passed away on May 9, 2017 in Deland, Florida. He was born in Muskegon, MI, March 26, 1950. He leaves behind his wife of 45 years Pamela (Hurst), his two daughters Alicia (David Petry) and Linnea, seven grandchildren, his sisters Mary Jo (Brent) and Paula (Alan VanDuinen), his brother Philip, and many nieces… Continue Reading →

Leigh Ann DeWolf ’79 Eriks

Leigh Ann DeWolf ’79 Eriks, age 59, from Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away on April 12, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Leigh was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Annette De Wolf. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Mark, her children, Lauren and Lauren’s husband Kyle, Martin and Matthew,… Continue Reading →

Ernie Otto ’70

“SOMETHING IN THE WATER” PART 2 Following publication of the article “Something in the Water” (Summer 2017), about microbreweries established by alumni, we learned that we missed the earliest of them all, Grand Teton Brewing, founded in 1988 by Charlie Otto ’78 and Ernie Otto ’70 (the latter of whom died in June 2008). Originally… Continue Reading →

Susan Klaner ’71 Madden

Susan Klaner ’71 Madden of Onaway, Michigan, reports that September was filled with a trip to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for a 10-house, 10-day Blitz Build with Habitat for Humanity. Her team, which included 27 people from all over the USA, was divided up to build two houses. She reports that the families were all on site… Continue Reading →

Cathleen Work ’73 Draper

Cathleen Work ’73 Draper of Edmonds, Washington, retired after 43 years in education. The first six were as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher in the public schools of Oberlin, Ohio. One year was as a teaching assistant at University of Washington while working on a master’s in curriculum and instruction. The remaining years were in… Continue Reading →

Steve Norden ’74

Steve Norden ’74 of Dublin, Ohio, was recently awarded the John A. Price Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Chaplaincy by the International Conference of Police Chaplains. He has served as a volunteer chaplain with the Dublin Ohio Police Department since 1990 and also with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2012 Continue Reading →

Robert Van Voorst ’74

Robert Van Voorst ’74 is a professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary and recently had his book Commonly Misunderstood Verses of the Bible: What They Really Mean published by Cascade Press. It treats 24 passages from the Old and New Testaments, and is designed for both individual reading and group study. Continue Reading →

Rich Williams ’75

Rich Williams ’75 reports that he has released performance measures for New Mexico Mainstreet. They have leveraged a combined $51,021.866 in private-sector reinvestment over the last five years, which has provided opportunities for local entrepreneurs to open and expand 558 net new businesses. For 15 years he has been the executive director of New Mexico… Continue Reading →

Beverly Kerlikowske ’76 Butler

Beverly Kerlikowske ’76 Butler of San Rafael, California, was recently honored at Theatre Bay Area’s 40th anniversary gala as one of the 40 people who have changed the face of regional theatre in the San Francisco Bay Area. She serves on the executive committee and board of Playground, a new plays incubator, and also on… Continue Reading →

Todd Harburn ’78

Todd Harburn ’78 edited the book A Surgeon with Custer at the Little Big Horn. He is an independent scholar, orthopedic surgeon and doctor of sports medicine. He and his wife, Shirley Bolhouse ’79 Harburn, reside at the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan. Continue Reading →

Charlie Otto ’78

“SOMETHING IN THE WATER” PART 2 Following publication of the article “Something in the Water” (Summer 2017), about microbreweries established by alumni, we learned that we missed the earliest of them all, Grand Teton Brewing, founded in 1988 by Charlie Otto ’78 and Ernie Otto ’70 (the latter of whom died in June 2008). Originally… Continue Reading →

Adelheid Holthuis ’71 Denz

Adelheid Holthuis ’71 Denz of San Antonio, Texas, is the author of Uprooted: The Story of an Immigrant, a novella about a young surgical nurse who comes into adulthood during the horrors of World War II Germany. It is based on a true story, and grapples with Adelheid’s late mother’s wrenching emotional odyssey from Nazi… Continue Reading →

Roy Welton ’70

Roy Welton ’70 of Holland, Michigan, died on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. He was 69 and will be missed by his loving wife, large extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Welton; and is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Cindi Welton. He was an inspirational father to… Continue Reading →

Raymond Schofield ’71

Raymond Schofield ’71 of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, died on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 peacefully at Virtua Medical Center in Mount Holly on September 20th following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 70. Mr. Schofield was born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Pompton Lakes, NJ attending Pompton Lakes High School.  He was an avid participant in the Lakeland… Continue Reading →

Thomas Page ’72

Thomas Page ’72 of Holland, Michigan, died on Thursday, June 15, 2017. He was 68. In Heaven, he joins his beloved wife Karen, father Edward, and mother Helen. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Karyl Garbow of Phoenix, and brother-in-law, Tim Garbow of Montana. There will be no service and ashes will be spread at a… Continue Reading →

Maryjan “Jan” Wydra ’73

Maryjan “Jan” Wydra ’73 of Wells, Maine, died on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. at home in the loving care of his family after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Jan was born May 12, 1946 in Germany, the son of Jan and Else (Recht) Wydra. His family immigrated to the United States when Jan… Continue Reading →