Campus Memorials

Steve Holtrop (1959-2023)

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.

Emma Nibbelink (2004-2023)

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.

Austin Brown (2000-2022)

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.

David Temte (1998-2019)

Junior David Temte, along with his twin brother Benjamin, died as a result of an auto accident in northwestern Montana on June 24, 2019.

Joshua Tucker (1993-2012)

Joshua Tucker, who had just completed his freshman year at Dordt College (now University), passed away on May 16, 2012.

Brandon Oldenkamp (1989-2010)

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.

Cella Bosma (1953-2009)

Education professor Cella Bosma passed away on March 29, 2009 from cancer.

Jon Kooima (1988-2006)

On November 26, 2006, freshman student Jon Kooima passed away as a result of an acute asthma attack.

James Klaver (1980-2003)

James Klaver, who had graduated from Dordt two months earlier, passed away on July 9, 2003, after a battle with leukemia.

Sandra (Williamson) Heynen (1945-2002)

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.

Daniel Oosterman (1983-2002)

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.

Kirk Van Engen (1974-1999)

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.

Doug Eckardt (1954-1997)

On September 20, 1997, Doug Eckardt, registrar and instructor at Dordt, passed away from injuries sustained in a truck/bicycle accident.

Jeff Gesch (1976-1996)

Jeff Gesch died from an acute asthma attack on August 11, 1996. He would have begun his senior year at Dordt that fall.

Diane Bandstra (1971-1992)

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.

Khamko Baccam (1968-1990)

Khamko Baccam, a senior at Dordt, died on November 3,1990, as a result of an automobile accident.

Darwin Cnossen (1967-1990)

Darwin Cnossen died on June 11, 1990, in a farming accident. He had completed his sophomore year at Dordt in the spring.

Esther Zevenbergen (1932-1988)

Esther Zevenbergen, a long time employee of the Dordt library, died on February 12, 1988, following a brief illness.

Jack Visscher (1953-1981)

Jack Visscher, instructor of economics at Dordt, died on November 17, 1981, due to a fast-growing malignancy around his heart.

Marjorie Vander Weide (1953-1980)

Marjorie Vander Weide, part-time student at Dordt, died in a plane crash on January 25, 1980.

Rita Vander Weele (1962-1980)

Freshman Rita Vander Weele passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.

Jim Van Drunen (1962-1980)

Freshman Jim Van Drunen passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.

Paul Timmer (1959-1979)

Freshman Paul Timmer passed away unexpectedly on April 7, 1979, from a heart attack.

Edith Vander Wekken (1960-1979)

Freshman Edith Vander Wekken died on January 5, 1979, as a result of a car accident.

Walter Ouwens (1953-1975)

Walter "Wally" Ouwens died on July 23, 1975, as a result of congenital heart problems. He was a junior in the fall of 1974 when he had to leave his studies at Dordt due to his illness.

Mary Kreps (1952-1972)

Mary Kreps, who would have been a junior Dordt student in the fall, died from injuries sustained in a road construction accident on June 9, 1972.

Patricia (Dykstra) Starkenburg (1952-1972)

Pat Starkenburg passed away on January 26, 1972, after a short illness. She had completed the first semester of her sophomore year in the fall of 1971.

Elizabeth Verbrugge (1916-1971)

Elizabeth Verbrugge died on April 5, 1971, after a long illness. She was employed as a secretary at Dordt.

Jackson De Jongh (1953-1971)

Freshman Jackson De Jongh passed away as a result of an automobile accident on April 30, 1971.

Jay Levering (1944-1966)

Jay Levering, a Dordt senior, passed away as a result of a car accident on May 26, 1966. Jay would have graduated from Dordt the following week.

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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cella Bosma (1953-2009)

Dordt University

Education professor Cella Bosma passed away on March 29, 2009 from cancer.
Jon Kooima (1988-2006)

Dordt University

On November 26, 2006, freshman student Jon Kooima passed away as a result of an acute asthma attack.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Khamko Baccam (1968-1990)

Dordt University

Khamko Baccam, a senior at Dordt, died on November 3,1990, as a result of an automobile accident.
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.
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.
Jim Van Drunen (1962-1980)

Dordt University

Freshman Jim Van Drunen passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.
Marjorie Vander Weide (1953-1980)

Dordt University

Marjorie Vander Weide, part-time student at Dordt, died in a plane crash on January 25, 1980.
Rita Vander Weele (1962-1980)

Dordt University

Freshman Rita Vander Weele passed away on January 25, 1980, as a result of a plane crash.
Edith Vander Wekken (1960-1979)

Dordt University

Freshman Edith Vander Wekken died on January 5, 1979, as a result of a car accident.
Paul Timmer (1959-1979)

Dordt University

Freshman Paul Timmer passed away unexpectedly on April 7, 1979, from a heart attack.
Walter Ouwens (1953-1975)

Dordt College

Walter "Wally" Ouwens died on July 23, 1975, as a result of congenital heart problems. He was a junior in the fall of 1974 when he had to leave his studies at Dordt due to his illness.