Kurt Van Genderen ’63

Kurt Van Genderen ’63, age 76, of Holland, died suddenly from cardiac arrest on April 15, 2018, while spending the night in Williamsburg, KY, as he and his wife Beverly were traveling to Michigan from wintering in Florida.

He was born in Denver, Colorado and loved to ski but truly appreciated the values and lifestyle of living in the Midwest after residing in Holland for almost 50 years.

Kurt graduated from Hope College in 1963 and Tuck Business School at Dartmouth in 1965. He began his career in investments in Hartford, CT, before joining the development staff at Hope College. He subsequently continued development work at Camp Geneva and started his own investment firm, Branch Capital Management, from which he retired in 2015.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bev; his children and their spouses, Gail and Bryan Harries, Mark and Laura VanGenderen, Joanne and Jack Joliat; as well as eight grandchildren, Owen and Adam Harries, Aaron, Ethan, Catherine and Mei Lin VanGenderen, Elliott and Charlotte Joliat. He is also survived by three brothers, Larry, Warren and Scott; sister, Sue Watson; and sisterin- law, Anita Joeckel; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

Kurt had determination and drive which coupled with his good humor, his sense of adventure and fun, his unfailing optimism, his immediate rapport with anyone he met, his lack of pretensions, his creativity, and especially his faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and love for his family, enabled him to live every day of his 76 years to the fullest.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 22, at Pillar Church, 57 E 10th St., Holland, with Rev. Timothy Brown and Rev. Andrew Fierro officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Branch Scholarship Fund at Hope College. Arrangements are by Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home and condolences may be left online at langelandsterenberg. com.

“I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5