Thomas Hoeksema

09/29/1946 - 09/30/2025

Dr. Thomas Brian Hoeksema, Sr., age 79, of Grand Rapids, MI died unexpectedly in his home on September 30, 2025. The day before he died, most of his family celebrated his birthday together. He was delighted to be with everyone where he could give and receive many hugs, kisses, and loving words. His smile was deep and his eyes were sparkling.
He had kindness that seeped out of his pores. He loved people deeply. He made people feel like the center of the world. He leaned in close to listen. He was wise. He served on countless committees, boards, and organizations, but he also did the quiet work. He built bridges and relationships, often privately, and without the need for acknowledgement. He sought out and discovered beauty everywhere he went.
Tom loved the Lord, his family, his many friends, creation, orchestra music, playing his trumpet, inclusion for all, Grace Church, gardening, lexicology, traveling with Mary, snuggling babies, crokinole, good movies, good protests, a good view, racquetball, the mountains, reading, laughing, playing on the floor with his grandkids, hiking in the woods, watching his grandchildren in all their activities, being at the cottage, cooking, not necessarily in that order.
Tom earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education from Calvin University in 1968 and his PhD in Special Education from Michigan State University in 1975. He spent the majority of his career teaching at Calvin University where he was an integral part of establishing the Special Education Program. He dedicated his career to equality and inclusion for people with disabilities. His heart for inclusion extended beyond that; he spent the last part of his life working tirelessly for the inclusion of all people (especially the LGBTQIA+ community) in church and school spaces. Some causes that were important to him were inclusive schooling, lifting up women's gifts, accessibility in higher education, and healing racism. He was a true servant from the kitchen to the council room.
Tom thought and wrote copiously about life and death. After he died, the family found a note he had written: "I state unequivocally that I do not fear dying. I believe that my existence extends beyond mortal life and that death is a transition to a superior way of being. I look forward to being ever closer to God and to enjoying the flow of God's love forever. I know that someday I will turn around, and there you will be."
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Edna (Mastenbroek) Hoeksema, and Bernard and Jane (VanderGriend) Pekelder. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary (Pekelder) Hoeksema, four children Tom Jr. (Stacia), Adam (Coy), Laura, and Jenny (Mark), and 19 grandchildren (Taryn, Seth, Shae, Tayva, Kahalah, Wasson, Ra'Kai, Kennadi, Tristin, Aydin, Ashtin, Noelle, Rowan, Piper, Gideon, Kai, Koda, Jovi, and Nico) and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary Koning (Harvey, deceased), his brother William (Angie) Hoeksema, his in-laws Anne and Michael Bruinooge, Ben and Pam Pekelder, Jane and Daniel Ward, Ruth Pekelder and Rick Huizinga, and many nieces and nephews. His family is devastated by his passing, and we will never be the same.
Visitation will be held at Grace Church (100 Buckley Ave SE in Grand Rapids) on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. A memorial worship service will be held at Grace Church on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM with a visitation hour immediately preceding the service at 3:00 PM. Donations for those who wish to make them could go to All Belong, the Pekelder Special Education Scholarship at Calvin University, or Treetops Collective.
In a note about his final wishes, Tom wrote, "Any love people felt from me spills out of my deep joy in being loved by God and my desire to be in the flow of that river."