Class Year: 1980

Peter Dykema ’84

Peter Dykema ’84, who is a professor of history at Arkansas Tech University, is also the co-director of Arkansas Governor’s School, a month-long academic summer camp for rising high-school seniors funded by the Arkansas Department of Education. Each summer, 380 students attend AGS and focus on one of nine academic disciplines, along with sessions on… Continue Reading →

Kathy Hartger ’80

Kathy Lynn Hartger, age 65 of Montague, passed away on Tuesday morning, October 3, 2023 at the Newaygo County Compassion Home in Fremont. She was born on November 4, 1957 in Fremont, Michigan to Willis “Bill” & Thelma (VanKorlaar) Hartger. Kathy graduated from Hope College in 1980, and she was a school teacher in Muskegon… Continue Reading →

Timothy Tietz ’83

Timothy R. Tietz of Brick, NJ, passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 8, with his loving wife Karen by his side. Tim was 62 years old. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Tim lived throughout the Midwest before his parents settled in East Kentwood, Michigan. He graduated from East Kentwood High School in Michigan in 1979, and… Continue Reading →

Gerald Van Baren ’85

Gerald attended Covenant Christian High School, Hope College, University of Michigan, and Michigan State University. Gerald worked at Lear Siegler/Smiths Industries/GE Aerospace, CRI, and Vibration Research Continue Reading →

Kim McBee ’87 Foster

With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Kim McBee Foster of Overland Park, Kansas, who passed away on October 28, 2023 at the age of 57. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. She was predeceased by : her father Larry Gray… Continue Reading →

Diane Barr ’80 Brace

Diane Barr ’80 Brace relocated to Florida and reports that she stays busy singing in community women’s chorus and church choir and volunteering in many church ministries. She reports that she enjoys traveling, caring for her three dogs, gardening, reading, crafting and spending time with family. Continue Reading →

Jennifer Heitman ’85 Gurney

Jennifer Heitman ’85 Gurney is now an internationally published poet. Jennifer has spent a career in public policy, advocacy and education. Fourteen months ago, she embarked on a journey to become a published poet for the first time – at the age of 59. Since November 2023, she has had nearly 700 poems accepted for… Continue Reading →

Harry Coffill ’89

Harry Coffill ’89 is a K-12 library-media specialist at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and received the Ruby Brown Award for Individual Excellence from the Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL). This award recognizes excellence in an individual who has helped promote and integrate the use of the school library in the curriculum and has encouraged local-level… Continue Reading →

Scott Earl ’86

Scott W. Earl, 59, of Lambertville, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly January 29, 2024, in his home. He was born on June 19, 1964, in Port Clinton, Ohio, to William and Janyce (Sumney) Earl. He graduated from Blissfield High School in 1982 where he was a record-breaking track athlete. He attended Hope College and the University of Toledo to study… Continue Reading →