Class Year: Sympathy to

Norman “Bunko” Japinga

Norman “Bunko” Japinga, who retired in 1995 after 27 years that included serving as athletic equipment manager and transportation director, died on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, at age 88. He joined the staff in 1968 as Hope’s first official equipment manager, along with custodial duties in the old Carnegie-Schouten Gymnasium and responsibility for the fledgling… Continue Reading →

Dr. Peter Jolivette

Dr. Peter Jolivette, who retired as a professor emeritus of physics in 2001 after teaching at Hope for a quarter century, died on Friday, Sept. 21, at age 77. He was a 20-year survivor of angiosarcoma cancer, and for the last five years was the longest-lived survivor in the United States. He joined the faculty… Continue Reading →

Dr. J. Cotter Tharin

Dr. J. Cotter Tharin, who founded the college’s geology department and taught at Hope for 29 years, died on Thursday, Aug. 9, at age 87. He joined the faculty in 1967 and was recruited to establish the department, which today is named the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, and retired in 1996 having chaired the department his entire time… Continue Reading →

Dr. Richard Vandervelde

Dr. Richard Vandervelde, who was a member of the mathematics faculty for 33 years until retiring in 2000, died on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at age 80. He joined the faculty in 1967. His tenure at the college included chairing the Department of Mathematics, chairing the Albert E. Lampen Mathematics Contest and Conference, and serving the college’s computer center for a… Continue Reading →

Dr. Margaret Van Wylen

Dr. Margaret Van Wylen, who was Hope’s first lady for 15 years, died on Saturday, August 4, 2018, one day before her 94th birthday. Her husband, Dr. Gordon Van Wylen, was the college’s president from 1972 until retiring in 1987. He survives her. She retired from a career as a psychiatrist in 1994. Her professional activity included serving on the… Continue Reading →

Wayne Boulton

Wayne Granberry Boulton, 77, died at home of pancreatic cancer on Feb 1, 2019, in Indianapolis, IN. Wayne was a devoted and beloved husband, father, teacher and friend, always putting others at ease with warmth and good humor.  He loved the fierce, wide-open landscapes of Scotland and Montana; walking and hiking in solitude; swimming the… Continue Reading →

John Dykstra

John Junior Dykstra, of Park Township, formerly of Columbia, Md., and Hingham, Wis., passed away on January 29, 2019, following a long illness. A native of Hingham, John was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany and Trabzon, Turkey with the United States Air Force before completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. He then… Continue Reading →

John E.N. Howard

Dr. John E.N. Howard, age 99, of Holland, passed away Friday, November 16, 2018, at Holland Hospital. John served in the US Army during WWII and was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Robert and Hettie Howard; son, Steven John Howard, in 1983; and wife, Lillian J. (nee Vander Heuvel) Howard, in 1981; as… Continue Reading →

Marlene Reus

Marlene Reus, age 73, of Zeeland passed away Sunday, February 10, 2019. Marlene was born and raised in Holland. She graduated from Holland High School in 1964. She worked for 29 years at Hope College in the Physical Plant. Following her retirement, she was known to bake cookies for her church, shut ins, family, and… Continue Reading →

Stephen Keith Taylor

Stephen Keith Taylor, 74, of Holland, entered the presence of Christ at Lakeside Vista in Holland on January 17, 2019. Stephen was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 28, 1944, the son of Jolly and Inez Taylor. He graduated from Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles in 1962 and served in the U.S.… Continue Reading →

John Greller

Greller, John, 10/28/1945 – 2/19/2019, Newberg, OR. John Henry Greller, our beloved “Bear”, left his home in Newberg, Oregon, which he had affectionately named, “The Last Resort”, and received his eternal heavenly body on February 19, 2019. John was born to Nelson and Helene Greller on October 28, 1945, in Washington, D.C. where he lived… Continue Reading →

Joyce Hanlon

Rev. Joyce A. Hanlon, age 81, of Jenison, went to be with her Lord on Friday, April 26, 2019. She was preceded in death by her parents Everett and Marion Norman. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 58 years, Charles B. Hanlon; children Charles C. (Renee) Hanlon, and Janelle Washburne; grandchildren Maxwell… Continue Reading →

Dave Vincent

On May 15, Dave Vincent, loving husband of Mary Vincent and devoted father of Adam (Kate) Vincent, Danielle (Jeff Ingold) Vincent, passed on at the age of 75. Dave was born in Trout Lake, Michigan, on March 18, 1944. As an early teen, he moved to the Holland area where he attended West Ottawa High… Continue Reading →

Clarence J. Handlogten

Clarence J. Handlogten of McKinney, Texas passed away on June 28, 2019 at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on January 3, 1930 to Benjamin and Wava Handlogten in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Clarence graduated from Godwin High School, then continued his education and received his B.S. from Detroit College… Continue Reading →

Shirley Beckman

Shirley Beckman, 83, of Holland, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019. Shirley and her husband Stanley had been members of Grace Reformed Church.  She worked in the public safety department at Hope College until her retirement after over 20 years of service. In their retirement, Shirley and Stanley enjoyed spending time at their summer… Continue Reading →

Sophia Hamberg

Sophia M. Hamberg, age 89, of Holland, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Vista Springs Assisted Living Center. Sophia retired after 23 years as the Secretary in the Counseling and Placement Center at Hope College. Her joys were sailing with her husband and cooking for her family. She was a member of Maranatha Christian… Continue Reading →

John Nordstrom

John Nordstrom, age 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 17, 2020. Those who knew John Nordstrom knew he was a big man, both figuratively and literally. He loved big ideas, big pieces of peach pie (with crumbly topping), and the big sound of pipe organs. He had a big heart… Continue Reading →

Marvin Stadt

Marvin Stadt, entered his heavenly home on Thursday, January 2, 2020. Marvin was born on March 28, 1932, the only child of John and Allie Stadt of East Saugatuck. Marvin graduated from Holland High School in 1950, and married the love of his life, Julia Becksvoort, June 5, 1953. Marvin was a member of Graafschap… Continue Reading →

Sandy Tasma

The family of Sandy Tasma, of Holland, Michigan, who died on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. She was 65. She worked at Hope College for more than 40 years prior to retiring as office manager in the development and alumni engagement office. Survivors include her siblings, Cindy (Steve) DeWeerd and Rob (Nancy Bartels ’91) Tasma; and… Continue Reading →

Mary Ann Hesche

Mary Ann Hesche went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 11, 2020, at Appledorn Assisted Living South at the age of 87. She was born on Nov. 14, 1932, in Grand Rapids, daughter of Andrew and Marie Hoffman. Mary is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Ron; children, Dawn… Continue Reading →