December 2010 Obituaries

JoAnn VanKolken '51 Belter (9/20/10)

Betty Mulder '45 Burton (9/24/10)

Peter Cook (11/28/10)

Richard DeMaagd '54 (8/1/10)

Vernon Elzinga '58 (11/11/10)

Daniel Courtlandt Geary '50 (11/9/10)

Jon Haberland '48 (9/4/10)

Klaas Meyer '61 (6/2/09)

Eleanor Schoonmaker '43 Morehouse (10/31/10)

Robert Rieckmann '50 (10/17/10)

Mildred Burghardt '45 Roberts (8/4/10)

Isaac Rottenberg '53 (6/28/10)

John Ryskamp '50 (10/11/10)

Alma Scarlett (12/10/10)

Eunice Bernson '61 Schafer (8/5/08)

Edwin Simmons '61 (10/9/10)

Lila Mae Clonan '42 Slingerland (5/22/10)

Jennifer Kastner '71 Steenbergen (1/14/10)

Sam Vander Schaaf '59 (9/29/10)

Mildred Herman '43 Worfel (9/26/10)

Virginia Ewing '44 Zoet (10/10/10)

JoAnn Van Kolken ’51 Belter, died on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. She was 81.

Born to Dr. M.J. and Josephine (Tazelaar) Van Kolken on June 17, 1929, she was a 1947 graduate of Holland High, graduated from Michigan State College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, earned a Master's degree in Education from the University of Michigan, attended art classes in Guadalajara, Mexico and at the Rhode Island School of Design in Province. She taught elementary art at Gladstone Public Schools in the Upper Peninsula and at East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Public Schools.

She retired from Grand Rapids schools as an Art Supervisor. In later years she was a professional model. JoAnn was a member of the Grand Valley Artists, Central Reformed Church, and the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel and worked with young people and older adults helping them develop skills with art. She traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico, the United States, China and Israel. Along the way she developed subject ideas for some of her paintings.

Survivors include her brother, Paul Van Kolken of Holland; nieces, Amy Van Kolken Banister (Martin) of Houston and Emily Van Kolken and her daughter, Allison Bridges, both of Holland; several cousins in the United States and the Netherlands.

Betty Mulder ’45 Burton, of Traverse City, Mich., passed away on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. She was 87. Betty was born June 11, 1923, to the late Bernard and Louise (Weaver) Mulder in Muskegon. Betty was raised in several areas and was the daughter of a missionary.

She eventually attended seminary after graduating from Hope College in Grand Rapids. Betty was a student of music, psychology and religion at Hope and went on to attend Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, graduating in 1985. Betty was ordained by the United Methodist Church as a minister and had a true calling to reach out and help. On June 27, 1971, she entered into marriage with Eldon Burton. Together Eldon and Betty ministered to many and raised their family. In addition to being the mother of six, Betty also worked as a caseworker to aid dependent children with the Michigan Department of Social Services, a position that allowed her to help those truly in need. Betty had the unmistakable pleasure to be "Queen for a Day" as she was selected from applicants; she starred in the television program, receiving all the accolades right down to the mink coat and washer and dryer. She enjoyed people and took every opportunity to help where she could and engaged in conversation, befriending all she would meet.

She would often be found writing, bird-watching or enjoying travel. Betty was strong in her faith and will be missed by many.

Survivors include her three sons, Mike VerBerkmoes, James VerBerkmoes and William (Randi) VerBerkmoes; her daughter, Judith DePew; eight grandchildren; one sister, Judith Mulder ’49 VanZanten; her first husband, Harold VerBerkmoes ’48 ; and many other loving family members and friends, including nephews, S. Craig Van Zanten, Jr. ’77 and John VanZanten ’78; and niece, Dacia VanZanten ’85 (D. Peter ’83 ) VanEenenaam. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon; a son, David VerBerkmoes; daughter, Suzanne Darmenio; two grandchildren, Jessica VerBerkmoes and Stephen McCann; her parents, Bernard (Louise Weaver ’20) Mulder (1919); and her sister, Donna Mulder ’47 Rypstra.

Peter Cook, of Grand Rapids, Mich., died on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. He was 96.

He was a member of the Hope College Board of Trustees over four decades and a generous philanthropist to many organizations in Western Michigan, including Hope College.

He and his wife, Emajean (Pat), who died on May 20, 2008, were involved in the life of the college in many ways. Their support had included establishing the Peter and Emajean Cook Scholarship Fund and the Peter C. and Emajean Cook Endowed Professorship. Cook Residence Hall and Cook Auditorium in the De Pree Art Center, for which they provided leadership gifts, are named in honor of them. Peter was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1977 to 1989, when he became an honorary trustee, and was a national co-chair of the college's successful Legacies: A Vision of Hope fund-raising campaign that concluded in 2005. He received an honorary degree, a Litt.D., from Hope in 1981.

He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and attended Davenport University. He and Pat, who met and began dating while high school students, were married in 1940. They were lifelong members of Grace Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.

His early career included working in construction with his father; in a variety of positions with Kelvinator; as an accountant at Blackmer Pump Co.; and as chief accountant and treasurer at Ranger Reel.

He was president of Import Motors Limited from 1954 until selling the business in 1980. In 1977, he established Transnational Motors, which sold Mazdas as Mazda Great Lakes, with business partners Robert Hooker and Max Boersma '46, serving as chairman and majority owner until selling the company in 2000. He was most recently chairman of Cook Holdings.

He and Pat established the Cook Charitable Foundation as a conduit for their benevolence. They generously supported numerous organizations and charities in addition to Hope, including Aquinas College, Calvin College, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Lake Michigan Academy, Porter Hills Presbyterian Village and Spectrum Health, and also contributed extensively to the Southwest Grand Rapids neighborhood where they had grown up. He served on several boards, including of the Blodgett-Butterworth Foundation, the Porter Hills Foundation, Gospel Communications and the Van Andel Institute.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas M. '67 (Marcia) Cook and Stephen J. (Betty) Cook; three grandchildren, including Ryan '96 (Jessica) Cook; three great-grandchildren; two brothers; a sister-in-law, Jean Rivenburgh '50 Cook; nieces and nephews, including Sally J. Cook '69 Zuithoff (and her husband Kenneth Zuithoff '67), Carol J. Cook '73, and Mark J. Cook '73 (and his wife Janet Ann Ross '76 Cook); and grand-nieces and grand-nephews, including Anna J. Cook '05, Matthew J. Cook '05 (and his wife Mary Scholtens '05 Cook), Jacob J. Cook '07, Julie A. Cook '07 Simon (and her husband Matt Simon '07), and Margaret R. Cook '10. Among those preceding him in death were three brothers, including James I. Cook '48; and a nephew, Douglas J. Cook '66.

Richard DeMaagd ’54 of Fairhope, Ala., died on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. He was 78.

A long-time English teacher at Wyoming High School who was born to Christian missionaries in pre-World War II Japan. Mr. de Maagd died Aug. 1 from effects of Parkinson's disease at a home he bought for his retirement in Fairhope, Ala., said his wife Emogene de Maagd. His wife described her husband as a serious and studious man and recounted their first date in 1978.

It began at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park, where Mr. de Maagd repeatedly corrected the grammar of his future wife, who was born in Appalachia. The corrections continued at a romantic dinner at Mecklenburg Gardens when Mrs. de Maagd had enough, slapping the table. "You're cultured and I'm crude," she remembered saying. Mr. de Maagd collected himself and calmly said, "Stick with me, baby. I'll teach you to be cultured and you'll teach me to be crude." They married in 1980. "We never argued. He was a very gentle man," Mrs. de Maagd said. "If he was interested in you, he would do anything to help you be a better person." Scholarly pursuits came naturally to Mr. de Maagd, born June 5, 1932 in Yokohoma to John and Marian de Maagd.

His parents were teachers, and two of the three de Maagd children followed their parents into that field. With the likelihood of war increasing as 1940 ended, the U.S. State Department advised U.S. nationals to return to their homeland, and Marian de Maagd and her children complied in January 1941. John de Maagd stayed longer under the watchful eye of Japanese government agents, who suspected him as a foreigner and because of the short-wave radio he carried to communicate with other missionaries. He followed his family to Long Island in March 1941.

Post-war, the family returned to Japan, and Mr. de Maagd graduated from Yokohama High School in 1950. He came back to the United States and earned a bachelor's in English at Hope College in Holland, Mich. Post college, he served in the U.S. Army in Berlin in military intelligence. Returning home again, Mr. de Maagd earned a master's degree in English from the University of Michigan. Eventually, he wound up at Wyoming High and taught there for 25 years from 1968-1993. Nina Zimmer of Goleta, Calif., Mr. de Maagd's younger sister, remembered him for his big brother role and the care he took with his family. "I remember once when I drifted and wandered away from home," at age 5, Zimmer said. "My parents had the police out looking for me. He was the one who found me. I didn't want to go home, but he persuaded me, gently but firmly, to come home."

Survivors include his wife, Emogene DeMaagd; his sister Avis Elson of Madison, Wis.; stepsons Ken Greer of Sardinia and Rod Greer of Fairhope; and three step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. John DeMaagd ’24.

Vernon Elzinga ’58, of Hudsonville, died on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. He was 74.

Vernon graduated from Hudsonville High School, and attended Hope College and Western Michigan University. He worked at Hubbell Furniture Co. and Acme Pallet Co. for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Gladys (Gerrits ’28) Elzinga.

Survivors include his brother and sister, Marshall and Jacqueline Peelle ’62 Elzinga ’60, Linda Elzinga ’65 and Ray Plumert all of Hudsonville; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, including Jeffrey Elzinga ’88.


Daniel Courtlandt Geary ’50 of Concord, NC died on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. He was 84.

Born April 15, 1926 in Passaic New Jersey he was the son of the late Daniel Geary and Genevieve Verinato Berinato Geary.
Mr. Geary was a World War II US Navy veteran, received degrees from Hope College and Columbia University, was a Cosmetic Chemist; served as Treasurer and President of the American Cosmetic Society.

He was a former member of Dutch Reformed Church in Clifton, N.J., and presently a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Concord, N.C.

During his years in New Jersey he volunteered as a Fireman, a Scout Leader, a Sunday School Teacher, and was an Honorary Fire Marshall in Washington Twsp, N.J.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Gizella Isabel Miko Geary in 2007.

He is survived by his sons, Daniel Courtlandt Geary II of Raleigh, Robert Armour Geary and wife Patricia of Huntersville, sister Janice J. Caldwell of Michigan and grandchildren, Alyssa Brooke Geary and Eric Rogers.

Jon Haberland '48 of Santa Ana, Calif., died on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. He was 92. He received a BA, from Hope College; Ph.D from Northwestern University. Retired clinical psychologist, Orange County Hospital.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marjory Ruth Haberland.

Klaas Meyer ’61 of St. Joseph, Mich., died on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago with his family by his side. He was 75.

Claude was born January 13, 1934 in Muskegon, MI to Hannes & Anna (Baker) Meyer. He married Alice Parker on September 10, 1960 in Montague, MI. Claude spent 4 years in Naval Aviation where he aquired his love for flying. In 1983 he built his own airplane and was still flying it until the end of last year. He graduated as an engineer from Michigan State and worked as Director of Quality Assurance at Heath/Zenith for 30 years.

He studied for his builders license and has been busy with construction projects ever since. He was an active member of the Christian Reformed Church and involved in many volunteer activities.

Claude is survived by his wife Alice Meyer of St. Joseph; daughter Janet (Michael) McKenzie of St. Joseph; son Brian (Krista) Meyer of Sodus; seven grandchildren; Kelsey Schaefer, Cory & Craig Schutter, Alex, Hannah, Noah, Isaac Meyer; three brothers Hannes Meyers of Holland, Gerold Meyers of Muskegon, Edward Meyers of Fruitport; one sister Marilyn Meyers of Kalamazoo. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter Carolyn Schutter.

Eleanor Schoonmaker ’43 Morehouse of of Whiting N.J. died on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. She was 89.

She was born April 29, 1921 in Seneca Falls, N.Y., the daughter of Fred J. and Aimee Arnold Schoonmaker.

She attended William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y. and graduated from Hope College, Holland Michigan in 1943. She married the Rev. H. Paul Morehouse on Aug. 20, 1947. She taught high school in West Leyden, N.Y. (English, French and band) and later taught general music classes in the Schalmont school district in Schenectady, N.Y. As the wife of a minister, Eleanor was active in the women's guild, Sunday school, directing the children's choir and ministering to widows and shut-ins. She was also a member of the Garden State Philharmonic Chorus.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. H. Paul Morehouse ’48; a brother, Frederick Schoonmaker; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Swinyard Morehouse ’74.

Survivors include her three children, James Morehouse ’72 of Bowie, Md., John (Linda) Morehouse ’76 of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Beth (Fr. G. Thomas ’74 Begley of St. Paul, Minn.; eight grandchildren, including Aimee Morehouse ’01 Lee and Adam Morehouse (current student); a brother, Hubert Schoonmaker of Clyde, N.Y.; a niece and nephew and their children.

Eleanor will be remembered as a woman of character, integrity, strength and generosity, a loving mother and a faithful Christian. May her memory be eternal.


Robert Rieckmann ’50 of Holland, Mich., died on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. He was 84.

Bob was born in Chicago and grew up in Oak Park, IL. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a waist-gunner on a B17. After the war, he attended Hope College and graduated from the University of Illinois.

He worked for many years at Shaw Walker in Muskegon where he raised his family. An avid jazz fan, he could identify the musicians in any given song. He loved his family, a good laugh, music and a Manhattan, and, most of all, his dear wife. He was a lifetime member of Elks Lodge #1315, a member of American Legion Charles A. Conklin Post #28 and attended Grace Episcopal Church.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Jack Kroll.

Survivors include wife, Donna; sister, Dorothea Kroll of St. Augustine, FL; four children, Chris St. John and Bill Rhodes of Holland; R. Scott Rieckmann and Deb Lee of North Carolina and their daughter, Kinzie of Atlanta, GA; Blair Rieckmann and Elizabeth Brandt of Holland; Dana Rieckmann and fiance' Katie Frym of California; and stepdaughter Lonnie and John Hansen, and their children, Tiffany and Tyler, of Ohio.

Mildred Burghardt ’45 Roberts of Morganton, N.C., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, at Charles A. Cannon Memorial. She was 87.

She was born April 9, 1923, to the late Frederick and Josephine Herms Burghardt in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She was a member of Holy Cross Episcopal in Valle Crucis and a 50-year resident of Gingercake Acres. She was also a member of several quilt guilds and was known statewide for her quilting. She was a lifelong educator and spent the last years at Appalachian State University.

Survivors include her sons, John Burns (Susan Carlisle) Roberts II, of Winchester, Va., Frederick Joseph (Leigh Allyn Cattell) Roberts ‘81, of Franklin, Tenn., and Herbert C. (Lisa Marie Carrozza ) Roberts III , of Simpsonville, S.C.; and three grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Burns Roberts.

Isaac Rottenberg ’53 of Denver Colo., died on Monday, June 28, 2010. He was 84.

He and his wife Malwina, served churches in High Bridge and New Shrewsbury, New Jersey , and Bushkill, Pennsylvania. He also served on the staff of the General Program Coucil. Born in London, England, the son of naturalized US citizens, Isaac Rottenberg grew up in the Netherlands. His father was raised in a Hasidic rabbinic family, and his mother in a Dutch Calvinist environment.

During the Nazi occupation of Holland (1940-1945), several members of the Rottenberg family were imprisoned because of anti-Nazi activities. Mr. Rottenberg's father died in the concentration camp Mauthausen. He, himself, spent several years in hiding on a farm in the province of Friesland. After World War II, Isaac Rottenberg studied law at the University of Leiden; and in 1948 he and his wife Malwina settled in the United States, where he earned a degree in theology at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He received a scholarship to study at the Rutgers University School of Journalism and a World Council of Churches grant to do special research at the University of Utrecht under the mentorship of professor Arnold van Ruler.

Mr. Rottenberg has had broad experience in ecumenical relations and Christian-Jewish dialogue. A minister of the Reformed Church in America, he has served as local pastor, lecturer in theology, and as his denomination's director of communications. He has participated in ecumenical conferences across the world, and served as the first chairperson of the National Council of Churches Office on Christian-Jewish Relations. As the executive director of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, Mr. Rottenberg was in regular contact with leaders in the mainline churches and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as evangelical communities. He also has had wide personal contact with Jewish organizational leaders and scholars. He was for many years a member of the Christian Scholars Group on Judaism and the Jewish People, and is active in the Hebraic Heritage Christian Center, an Atlanta-based agency devoted to increasing awareness among church members of the Judaic roots of their faith. Rev. Rottenberg has written for numerous magazines, journals and newspapers (Protestant, Catholic and Jewish). His books and translations have been published by Westminster Press, Eerdmans Publishing Company, St. Andrews Press (Edinburgh) and Hebraic Heritage Press.

He is survived by his wife, Malwina Rottenberg; five children, including daughter, Irene Rottenberg ’72; many grandchildren, including Carmen Rottenberg ’00, Rebecca Rottenberg ’03 and Nicole Rottenberg ’97 Beurkens.

John Ryskamp ’50 of Newtown, Penn., died on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. He was 83.

John was born February 25, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Samuel and Effie Dame Ryskamp. He was married for 56 years to Connie Van Zylen of Holland, MI. John and Connie met at and both graduated from Hope College.

After graduation, he served at Hope College as a physics instructor and then earned his M.S. in Physics from the University of Michigan where he studied on a Regents Scholarship. He worked for NASA at the Lewis Research Lab in Cleveland before joining the Space Systems Division of General Electric in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he worked for three decades. As a project manager for GE, John developed satellite communication systems for Skylab, Comsat, LandSat and other U.S. Satellites. John held many leadership positions in his church and community, and became an active volunteer during his retirement. John will be remembered by his family and friends for his sense of humor, loving spirit, wise counsel, and dedication to his family.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Connie VanZylen ’53 Ryskamp; his sisters, Florence Freshour of Arizona, Gertrude Schupp of Ohio; sister-in-law, Maxine VanZylen ’44 Battjes; beloved children, Dr. Richard P. (Annemarieke) of Cutlerville, Cynthia L. Mehallow (Michael) of New Jersey, Carol L. Ryskamp ’82 Anderson (Glenn) of Pennsylvania, Nancy E. Maratea (Michael) of Pennsylvania; ten grandchildren, Sam and Tom Ryskamp, Matthew, Michael and Michelle Mehallow, Eric and Evan Anderson, and Marisa, Jenna, and Justin Maratea; and nephew, Donald Battjes, Jr. ’68.

Alma Scarlett of Holland, Mich., died on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. She was 92.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Methodist Women's Society. She worked for Hope College as manager of the International Education office from 1961-1985.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, in 1982 and a son, Howard, in 2006.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan and John Middleton of Holland; brothers, Roland and Nancy Barlets of Holland, Jay and Dottie Bartels of Wyoming, Mich.; several nieces and nephews.


Eunice Bernson ’61 Schafer, of San Diego, Calif., died on Tuesday, Aug, 5, 2008. She was 68.

She was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, friend and counselor. Eunice was born on Oct. 25, 1939 in ludinton and graduated from Ludington High School in 1957. She later completed her doctoral degree in psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She was a cherished psychotherapist, living and working in San Diego for 31 years.

Survivors include her daughters, Kimberly Schafer and Kristin Schafer; and her grandchildren, Linnea and Connor Mack; her brothers, Dan and Fred Bernson; and a sister Lois Colby.


Edwin Simmons, ’61 of Springville, Pa., died on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. He was 72. He was born in Bainbridge, N.Y., on Oct. 8, 1938, son of the late Lester and Frances Smith Simmons. Before retirement, he served as pastor at many United Methodist churches in Nor heast Pennsylvania.

He was a graduate of Afton High School in Bainbridge and attended Hope College in Holland, Mich. He graduated from Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa, in 1962, and Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, in 1967. Ed was well-known in the area for playing the piano and keyboard, and was challenged to bring his musical gift to the church. Over the years, he created a worship service called the Gospel in Jazz. The music in this worship service became the material for his CD "The Gospel in Jazz."

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Susan Thrasher Simmons; three sons, Michael and wife, Jacqueline, Tunkhannock; Philip and wife, Danielle, Tunkhannock; and Benjamin and wife, Danielle Marie, Nicholson; a daughter, Stephanie and husband, Lewis Geyer, Longmont, Colo.; and seven grandchildren, Evan, Riley, Samantha, Jena, Drolma, Madeline and Grace.

Lila Mae Clonan '42 Slingerland of Syracuse, N.Y., died on Saturday, May 22, 2010. She was 94.

She was partners with her husband in church work for over 40 years, serving Reformed Churches in New York and New Jersey. She was an accomplished organist and played for a number of churches in the metropolitan New York and New Jersey area. She taught elementary school in New York City and Warwick, N.Y. She served on the Hope College Alumni Associated Board in the late 1960’s.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Stanley Slingerland ’41; and brother, Edward (Alice Bosch ’42) Clonan ’50.
Survivors include her son, Stanley (Kathleen) Slingerland Jr. ’69 and daughter, Jeanne Brandt.


Jennifer Kastner, ’71 Steenbergen of Groton, Conn., died on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. She was 59.

Survivors include her husband, Gregory Steenbergen.


Sam Vander Schaaf ’59 of Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, died on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. He was 75.

Beloved husband of Shirley Vander Schaaf (nee Twynstra). Loving father of David (Donna) and Sandra. Dear grandfather of Troy, Teesha and Samantha. Brother of Karl (Corrie), Thomas (Joan), Herman (Marj), Claire Tigchelaar (John) and David (Nancy).

Mildred Herman ’43 Worfel of Battle Creek, Mich., died on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. She was 89.

She was employed as a public helath nurse and was a nursing instructor at Kellogg Community College for 12 years.

Mildred was born on February 1, 1921, in Holland, MI, the daughter of Carl and Katherine (Kolean) Herman. She had been a resident of the area for 23 years coming from Ann Arbor. She was a 1939 graduate of Holland High School and attended Hope College in the pre-nursing program, then graduated from the Butterworth School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, MI. Mildred then earned a certificate from the University of Michigan then earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Michigan University. On September 1, 1945, she was united in marriage to Melbourne Worfel who preceded her in death on December 19, 1999.

She was employed as a public health nurse and was a nursing instructor at Kellogg Community College for 12 years. She was a member of the Westlake Presbyterian Church, enjoyed vocal music, quilting, gardening, reading and church activities.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Hooker.

Survivors included her children, David(Nancy) Worfel of Battle Creek, Paul(Kristie) Worfel of Huntington, IN; grandchildren, Rebekah(Steve) Byrd of Oak Park, IL, Philip Worfel of Grand Rapids, Anne (Jesse) Delbridge of Kent City, MI and Sarah(William) Dietrich of Portage, MI; great-grandchildren, Emily Byrd, Madeline
Byrd and Austin Dietrich; a sister, Jean Herman ‘33 Hill of Kalamazoo; and a nephew William (Ginger) Hill ’65.

Virginia Ewing ’44 Zoet of Huntsville, Ala., died on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. She was 89.

She was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Percy Ewing on September 15, 1921 in Byron Center, Mich., the oldest of four children. She met her husband, Charles Zoet, at Byron Center High School, whom she married on June 1, 1943.

Virginia received a bachelor's degree from Hope College and was a long-time resident of Plymouth, Mich. and Johannesburg, Mich.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Darnella (Ella) Wiersma and Betty Hitzler, both from Twin Lakes, Mich.

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Charles Zoet ‘49; three daughters, Anna Lotero of Johannesburg, Mich., Kay Fiala of Huntsville, Ala., and Frances Stine of Woodside, Calif.; grandchildren; and her brother, George "Wally" Ewing of Byron Center, Mich.



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