GERALD J. "Jerry" KUIPERS

Gerald "Jerry" J. Kuipers, the husband of Judith L. Kuipers former Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State Univerty, Fresno died on April 10, 2014. He was born of Dutch immigrant parents on August 23, 1926, in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. When Jerry was three years old, he and his parents illegally walked over the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit. His father John worked for Ford Motor Co. and his mother worked in a pickle factory. When Jerry was 13 years old, they moved to Centerline MI where they established Centerline Stamping Co. which thrived during WWII. In 1943 Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Frogman, now known as the Navy Seals. After the War he served as First Lt. in the U.S. National Guard. He attended Western Michigan University on the GI Bill. He and his family then established the first modern mobile home park in Michigan. In 1974, Jerry and his family began a journey in higher education. One of the highlights was Judith's tenure at Fresno State as Vice President for Academic Affairs. In fact, after serving at several universities over the next 46 years, the Kuipers chose to retire in Fresno. Jerry was passionate about his family and the role of his beloved country in the global arena. In a complex competitive world he had a fierce commitment to honesty without an an ounce of pretension. His charm and humor attracted faculty, students and the larger community. He enjoyed classical music, the American Songbook and sports and had a deep appreciation of nature. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Judith; daughter, Lori Kuipers and her children, Maraika and Quinn of Clovis, CA; sons, Mark and Dawn Kuipers and their children Mackenzie and Jon of Bellevue, WA, and Christopher and Tracey Kuipers of Fayetteville, NC; and the many friends throughout the world. A Family Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be given to LaCrosse Area Veterans Mentor Program, LaCrosse Administrative Building, 400 4th St. North, Rm B70, LaCrosse, WI 54601.