Dr. Renze L. Hoeksema of Holland, who retired from the Hope College political science faculty in 1986 after teaching at the college for 15 years, died on Monday, April 14, from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 94.
Dr. Renze L. Hoeksema of Holland, who retired from the Hope College political science faculty in 1986 after teaching at the college for 15 years, died on Monday, April 14, from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 94.
Hoeksema, who was a 1948 Hope graduate, was born in Grandville, Mich., on Sept. 13, 1919. Prior to becoming a student at the college, he was an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving on the intelligence staff of General Douglas MacArthur.
He met his Australian wife of 65 years, Marjorie Coombes, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, where she was employed as support staff for the U.S. Fifth Air Force Command, and they married on March 21, 1945. She preceded him in death on May 20, 2010.
He completed his Hope education in only two-and-a-half years, and went on to earn a master’s and doctorate from Harvard University.
Prior to joining the Hope faculty in 1971, he had been a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, serving between 1951 and 1971, in Washington, D.C.; Australia; the Philippines; Pakistan; India; Iran; Laos; Vietnam; and Thailand.
He received honors including the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, and decorations from the governments of the Philippines and South Vietnam. He was also awarded the National Medal of Merit. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Hope College Alumni Association in 1998.
While on the Hope faculty, Hoeksema directed the Model United Nations, Washington Honors Semester and Washington May Term. He also originated courses in the politics of Southeast Asia, the Far East, the Middle East and the Soviet Union, as well as a course in race and ethnic relations in the United States. Because of his experience and training, in 1979 he was a consultant for the peace talks between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and President Jimmy Carter.
His activities in retirement included helping found the Hope Academy of Senior Professionals (HASP), established in 1988. As an active HASP instructor, he taught at Hope, Calvin College, Davenport College, Aquinas College and Grand Valley State University. He was also active in the Holland Rotary Club, serving in a number of positions, including as president and for several years with the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program.
He was preceded in death not only by Marjorie but also his father and mother, Clarence and Lily (DeWindt) Hoeksema; his brothers, Frederick and James Hoeksema; and his sisters, Gertrude Van Polen and Gladys Timmer.
Survivors include his three children, Richard Nolen-Hoeksema '77 of Bethany, Conn., and Houston, Texas, Renze L. Hoeksema Jr. '79 and wife Kristin of Canton, Mich., and Margot Hoeksema '79 Wynveen and husband Barry of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada; six grandchildren, including Renee L. Wynveen '12; and his sister-in-law, Emma Hoeksema of Jenison, Mich.
A memorial service will be held Friday, April 25, at 11 a.m. at the Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St. in Holland. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be in Dutton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to "The Renze Lyle Hoeksema Prize in Political Science" at Hope College, Department of Political Science, PO Box 9000, Holland, Michigan 49422. The prize was established to award a junior majoring in political science who best demonstrates excellence in the classroom, interest in political science and promise of a useful career in public service.