This collection was created to honor those in the Dordt community who died while they were employed or a student at Dordt. We honor their memory.
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John Baas (1960-2025)
Dordt University
John Baas, Senior Development Officer and former Vice President for Advancement at Dordt University, passed away on July 21, 2025, after a 7-month battle with leukemia.
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Emma Nibbelink (2004-2023)
Dordt University
Driving back to campus after Christmas break on January 10, 2023, freshman Emma Nibbelink died of injuries sustained in a car accident. She was 18 years old.
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Steve Holtrop (1959-2023)
Dordt University
Dr. Steve Holtrop, Professor of Education and former Director of Graduate Studies at Dordt University, passed away from cancer on October 14. He was 64 years old.
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Austin Brown (2000-2022)
Dordt University
Senior Austin Brown, age 22, passed away on April 18, 2022, in Sioux Center, Iowa. He was looking forward to graduating from Dordt University in a few weeks.
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David Temte (1998-2019)
Dordt University
Junior David Temte, along with his twin brother Benjamin, died as a result of an auto accident in northwestern Montana on June 24, 2019.
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Joshua Tucker (1993-2012)
Dordt University
Joshua Tucker, who had just completed his freshman year at Dordt College (now University), passed away on May 16, 2012.
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Brandon Oldenkamp (1989-2010)
Dordt University
On July 22, 2010, while hiking with friends in the Grand Tetons National Park, Brandon Oldenkamp died. He would have been a senior in the fall semester.
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Cella Bosma (1953-2009)
Dordt University
Education professor Cella Bosma passed away on March 29, 2009 from cancer.
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Jon Kooima (1988-2006)
Dordt University
On November 26, 2006, freshman student Jon Kooima passed away as a result of an acute asthma attack.
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James Klaver (1980-2003)
Dordt University
James Klaver, who had graduated from Dordt two months earlier, passed away on July 9, 2003, after a battle with leukemia.
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Daniel Oosterman (1983-2002)
Dordt University
Daniel Oosterman, who would have been a sophomore at Dordt in the fall, died from injuries received in an auto accident on May 15, 2002.
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Sandra (Williamson) Heynen (1945-2002)
Dordt University
A non-traditional senior student at the time of her death, Sandra Heynen had also been employed at the Dordt Library for 20 years before she passed away on September 10, 2002.
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Kirk Van Engen (1974-1999)
Dordt University
Kirk Van Engen, who had completed his junior year in May 1999, passed away as a result of a truck accident on July 16, 1999.
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Doug Eckardt (1954-1997)
Dordt University
On September 20, 1997, Doug Eckardt, registrar and instructor at Dordt, passed away from injuries sustained in a truck/bicycle accident.
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Jeff Gesch (1976-1996)
Dordt University
Jeff Gesch died from an acute asthma attack on August 11, 1996. He would have begun his senior year at Dordt that fall.
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Diane Bandstra (1971-1992)
Dordt University
Diane Bandstra died July 28, 1992, from injuries received in an automobile accident. She would have entered her senior year at Dordt in the fall.
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Darwin Cnossen (1967-1990)
Dordt University
Darwin Cnossen died on June 11, 1990, in a farming accident. He had completed his sophomore year at Dordt in the spring.
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Khamko Baccam (1968-1990)
Dordt University
Khamko Baccam, a senior at Dordt, died on November 3,1990, as a result of an automobile accident.
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Esther Zevenbergen (1932-1988)
Dordt University
Esther Zevenbergen, a long time employee of the Dordt library, died on February 12, 1988, following a brief illness.
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Jack Visscher (1953-1981)
Dordt University
Jack Visscher, instructor of economics at Dordt, died on November 17, 1981, due to a fast-growing malignancy around his heart.
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Jim Van Drunen (1962-1980)
Dordt University
Freshman Jim Van Drunen passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.
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Marjorie Vander Weide (1953-1980)
Dordt University
Marjorie Vander Weide, part-time student at Dordt, died in a plane crash on January 25, 1980.
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Rita Vander Weele (1962-1980)
Dordt University
Freshman Rita Vander Weele passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.
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Edith Vander Wekken (1960-1979)
Dordt University
Freshman Edith Vander Wekken died on January 5, 1979, as a result of a car accident.
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Paul Timmer (1959-1979)
Dordt University
Freshman Paul Timmer passed away unexpectedly on April 7, 1979, from a heart attack.