Thomas Hoeksema

Dr Hoeksema was my favorite professor at Calvin in the late 70s. He was kind to his students and generously shared his passion for education. Over the years I contacted Dr Hoeksema a few times and he always responded in a gracious and thoughtful way (remembering who I was years later.)

Condolences to his friends and family.

“Well done,, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21

I was so blessed to have Tom as my professor, advisor, and friend. I could tell Tom stories forever! We had many laughs, a few tears, and an argument or two over many years of working together with student teachers after I left Calvin. I was so thankful to reconnect with him 3 years ago! What an incredible gift he was to so many. I pray that we all seek to live as he did, loving and caring for all people, as Jesus did. Rest well dear friend, you truly were a good and faithful servant.

I very much enjoyed Tom´s company on the outings of the Birding Interest Group of the Calvin CALL program. He was interested in all aspects of nature. A fine man. Who was fun to be with. I will miss him

After reading the obituary, I feel compelled to tell you what a lovely man. What a life so well lived! I know you´ll miss him, but with his attitude, you know he´ll be very happy where he is.

I remember and respected Prof. Hoeksema. He was exactly what I was looking for in a mentor as I entered my career in Special Education. Every time I would see him after graduation he greeted me like I was the most important person at that moment. He had such a way of smiling and treating everyone with deep care! He was the best! Rejoicing in his heaven going!

I echo all of the sentiments regarding Tom. And I've enjoyed being on Facebook with him these past few years. I'll miss his presence - both his insight and his joy in life and loved ones. I would like to add my first "encounter" with Tom and I'm not even sure it was a direct one. I was working at Calvin's Student Volunteer Service (which became the Service-Learning Center). We received a communication from Tom, in which he kindly requested us to reserve the word "adoption" for bringing...

May Tom´s memory live in us and through us. He was a good friend and will be dearly missed. My heartfelt sympathy to his family.

While I first met Tom when we were both on the Calvin University faculty, I got to know him more personally when he placed a winning bid for a lesson on fly fishing lesson at a fundraiser for Jubilee Center's International in Honduras. Besides my fishing lesson, this led to serval breakfast/lunch meetings and some hikes together. We found common interests in faith and its expression in social concerns, political views and more. I recognized in Tom a deep but unpretentious thinker and a...