Isla Streur ’50 Schipper

Isla Schipper, 88, of Holland, died on Jan. 22, 2017. She was born in Holland on Oct. 18, 1928, to Gordon and Emma Streur. Isla was a graduate of Holland High School ‘46 and Hope College ‘50. She was married to Vern Schipper ’51 for 56 years, who predeceased her. Isla is survived by her three sons, Jim ’81 and his wife Jane Frey of Grand Rapids, Brian ’83 and his husband Rick Lord of Palm Springs, California and Saugatuck, and Steve ’87 and his partner Greg Seely of Cedar Springs.

Isla worked as a teacher in Lansing, Muskegon and Holland. She was an active member of many social and charitable organizations around Holland including the AAUW, PEO and Junior League, where she served as the chair of testing for the first edition of Eet Smakelijt. She was a member of Christ Memorial Church.

Isla loved to travel; especially to visit her many close friends. She loved an afternoon of competitive bridge, a gathering of friends over cocktails, and wintering in warmer locales.

Isla always maintained a special place in her heart for the Holland Garden Club, where she served as president and whose activities permitted her to express her love of flowers, gardening and nature. She was an accredited Life and Master horticulture and flower show judge with the Michigan Association of Accredited Judges and was involved with the Holland and State of Michigan Garden Clubs for over five decades.

During Homecoming Weekend at Hope in October 2004, the sculpture “Wall Relief: Opus A” was dedicated in honor of Isla and her husband, Vern Schipper ’51, along with Lamont Dirkse ’50, Ruth De Graaf ’50 Dirkse, Ann Wolters ’50 Fredrickson and Philip Fredrickson ’50.  Originally installed at Nykerk Hall of music, the work now hangs at the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

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