Jim Van Beek

1937 - 2022

Jim Van Beek
September 4, 1937 - April 27, 2022
University Place , Washington - Jim Van Beek (Merrill James Van Beek) passed away peacefully on April 27, 2022. He was born in Linton, North Dakota, on September 4, 1937. His family moved to Tacoma when Jim was four years old.
Jim dreamed about attending Pacific Lutheran University as a student at Parkland Grade School. The day of his initial enrollment at PLU marked the realization of that dream and the beginning of Jim's lifelong service to the university. During his four years as a student athlete, Jim and his teammates took Lute basketball to four straight Evergreen conference Championships and four appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, finishing second in 1959. He continued to play basketball for many years after college. He was a key member of the two-time National NABA Championship Plywood Tacoma team. Jim was inducted into the PLU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Jim was an avid golfer and had been a member of Fircrest Golf Club since 1988.
In 1963 Jim was hired as a PLU Admission Counselor. He became the first PLU Director of Financial Aid and Assistant Director of Admissions two years later. From 1969 to 1991, Jim and his staff enrolled more than 24,000 Lute students. Jim's passion, commitment and professionalism had a positive influence on many students and colleagues. Jim brought his knowledge, passion and personal connections of many generations of Lutes to the Development Office in 1991. As a Major Gifts Director, he had primary responsibility for raising funds for over 70 named endowed funds for student scholarships, athletics and other support. "Jim's 50 years of service at PLU has been more than a career. His time has been spent on a mission and crusade to always look for ways to enhance PLU."
Jim and his first wife, Charmian Jondall, were married while students at Pacific Lutheran University and raised their four children in Parkland. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid (Knutzen) Gintz, his brother Duane (Lydia) and sister Sharon; his daughters, Lynnette (Jeff) Rohr, Leslie (Jay) Young, and son Mark (Carrie) Van Beek, his 7 grandchildren: Dalton Rohr; Ryker, Payton, and Marlee Young; Kendra, Shalyn and Maxwell Van Beek, and 4 great-grandchildren: Adley and Canon Young; Huxley and Judson Rohr. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Lorraine Van Beek, his daughter, Linda Van Beek and second wife, Faye Anderson.
Jim will be greatly missed by all his family, including nieces, nephews and Ingrid's children and grandchildren. His celebration of life will be held Monday, June 6th, 11:00am at Lagerquist Concert Hall on the PLU Campus. Remembrances in his honor can be made online or sent to Pacific Lutheran University to support Van Beek family endowments.
Online: https://www.plu.edu/advancement/tribute-giving/
Address: PLU Office of Advancement, 12180 Park Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98447