Jon Huisken, who retired from Hope in 2011 after more than 40 years as the college’s registrar, died on Thursday, April 21, 2022. He was 79.

Huisken, who had graduated from Calvin College in 1965, had been teaching middle school and junior high school, but was interested in working in higher education when the opportunity arose to come to Hope as assistant registrar in 1969.  He became registrar a year later, and in 1989, to reflect the way that his responsibilities had grown, he was promoted to dean for academic services and registrar.  To stay in touch with what faculty experienced, he also taught the college’s business writing course, and for several years had taught at Davenport University as well.

Hope students expressed their appreciation for him in 1987, when the graduating class presented him with a special award for service during that year’s Commencement ceremony.  In addition, he received the college’s Vanderbush-Weller Development Fund Award in 2011 for his strong positive impact on students, and the Provost’s Award for Service to the Academic Program in 2004.

For a retirement feature story celebrating Jon and his impact at Hope, please page 22 of the December 2010 issue of News from Hope College

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Joanne (’04); their daughters and their families: Amy Beth Huisken Praestgaard (’86) and Jens Thomas Praestgaard of Boston, Massachusetts; Shelley Min Huisken-Coniglio (’88) and Mario Coniglio of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada; Jana Lynn Huisken (’94) and Christopher Ashe of San Francisco, California; and Jennifer Sue Huisken LaPointe (’96) and Lynn LaPointe of Lansing, Michigan; and six grandchildren: Emily Joanne and Jonathan David Spencer; Sofie Christina, Erik Jon, and Matthew Eigil Praestgaard; and Tahlia Shea DeCory.

Arrangements are by Yntema Funeral Home of Zeeland, Michigan. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 24, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State St. in Zeeland.  The funeral service will be on Monday, April 25, at 1 p.m. at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church, 7146 48th Ave. in Hudsonville, Michigan, with a reception following. The services on April 25 will also be livestreamed at http://georgetownprc.org/live-stream/

Memorial gifts may be sent to: Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, 4949 Ivanrest Avenue SW, Grandville, MI 49418; or Protestant Reformed Special Education, Heritage Christian School, 6340 Autumn Drive, Hudsonville, MI 49426