In 1979 I married Mary Iwema from Oak Lawn, Illinois. After dropping out of Calvin and back in again, I transfered to the University of Michigan. I graduated from U of M in '81 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. We have 3 kids, Aaron born in 83, Steven in 85 and Anneke in 87. We lived in Highland, Indiana for 17 years, and then moved to Denver in 99. We enjoy bicycling, and I love to mountain bike.
Cyndi and I met at Calvin and decided that, since she was from Canada and I from Denver that the ideal 'neutral ground' would be Grand Rapids. So, after our marriage in '82 we settled here.
Cyndi is beginning her 19th year as the Special Education Administrator for Unity Christian High in Hudsonville, MI. She still loves what she does and greets each new year with enthusiasm.
I spent many years in the construction world, Project Managing jobs all over the world. My travels have taken me to 44 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Sweden and Australia. Seven years ago it was time for a change,
so I went to work for Siemens Dematic, which was then known as Rapistan. I am now involved with Logistics and Warehouse Management, supporting Sales in the software area for our traditional conveyor equipment. The position is a great deal of fun with some travel, but the duration is now 1-2 days as opposed to weeks.
Six and a half years ago our lives were changed in a fundamental and miraculous way. After fifteen years of marriage we were richly blessed with the birth of our son, Bradley. He was the ultimate fortieth birthday present, eliminating all of the time I had set aside to have my mid-life crisis. Cyndi says that she now has two children as I am doing everything in my power to have a second (childhood, that is). Our lives now revolve around all of the joys of parenthood and frequent doses of Geritol and anything else that is designed to give us more energy to keep up with number one Son. What a joy it is to have one's life revolve around two wheelers, tree forts and Spongebob Squarepants. I would NEVER in my wildest dreams predict that I would sing along with a cartoon sponge.
Bradley has just begun First Grade at Hudsonville Christian School. His is the last class to go through the original school building built 125 years ago. History repeats itself as memories of the Florida Clarkson 'cracker box' come flooding back.
It has been very interesting to catch up with the lives of many of you through the '75 website. Thanks should go to Ken for taking on the task.
After DC, I managed to survive four years of USAFA. Three days after graduation Donna (Ham) (DC Class of 77) and I were married. We then packed our bags and went to Enid, OK where I completed USAF pilot training. I remained in Enid ('79-'84) as an instructor pilot. We also "enjoyed" some temporary assignments in: Montgomery, AL; Alamagordo, NM; and Tucson, AZ; before moving to a new assignment in Jolly old England.
I flew the A-10 "Warthog" in southeast England and most of Western Europe (84-87). Following this assignment I was selected by the AF to attend Graduate school, at tax payers expense, in San Antonio, TX. How this happened will always remain a mystery to me-- and to those who know me! We remained in SanAntonio for the next six years until the AF moved us to Albuquerque, NM.
After retiring from the AF in 96 I jumped off the government gravy train and decided to work for a living. I'm currently a pilot with Southwest Airlines and trying to figure out how to pay for our three children's college. Kristen 21, Andy 14, Kate 10.
Patti and her husband Greg have been back in the USA for about a year after 2 years in Bolivia. Patti taught 2nd grade and Greg taught computer science at Carachipampa Christian school in Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America. They have 3 boys.
Moved to Iowa in 1975. Went to Reformed Bible College, where I met Jo Ann Kloosterman. We married on July 15, 1977. We had four children: Jeff - 6-9-78, Jamie - 2-6-80, Kari - 8-3-82 & Steven - 11-27-84 (deceased 4-11-85). Lived in Denver until October 1985. Moved to Kalamazoo. Received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Davenport University. Currently work as a manager at Kloosterman Greenhouses. We have two grandchildren. Enjoy golf, computers, movies, remodeling projects and gardening.
