Albert Boers ’51

Albert Jay Boers, age 95, was taken home to heaven on June 27, 2023. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on February 28, 1928, he narrowly missed being a Leap Year baby. If you knew Al, you know he would have had fun with that over the years!

Al was a hard worker at dozens of jobs throughout his life, spending the bulk of his career as a Claims Manager at Travelers Insurance Company. He was also a willing volunteer, serving as treasurer and youth leader at Christ Memorial Church and spending countless hours painting and distributing brochures for the Holland Museum. He worked at Freedom Village for 25 years, first in marketing before the building was up and later, as a driver. He lived there with his late wife, Elaine, for 16 years.After a brief stint in the Navy following high school, Al attended GR Junior College and then Hope College, where he met his wife, Elaine, on a blind date. They were staunch supporters of the college, especially Hope basketball and football, where Al was crew chief of the Chain Gang for 50 years. Al and Elaine enjoyed traveling, visiting nearly 2 dozen countries together. Al had a passion for the Olympic Games and creatively utilized his innate frugality to attend 9 Olympic Games on a tight budget (Elaine went along a few times). Amazingly, he could recall minute details about each trip, and so many other things in his life. He delighted in sharing jokes, riddles, limericks, and quotes to one and all. Surely having heard them all too many times to count, his long-suffering wife refrained from rolling her eyes 99% of the time.

While rejoicing that we will see him again in heaven, Al will be deeply missed by many. He is survived by children Jann (Mike) Kolean, Susan ’76 (Rick ’76) Smith, Mark Boers ’78, Sally ’80 (Brian ’80) Cote, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Carole Boers, brother-in-law, Glenn Groustra, sister-in-law, June Groustra, and nieces and nephews. Wife Elaine, 2 sisters, a brother, and a great- grandson preceded him In death.