Remembering Hope Alum and Retired Chemistry Professor Eugene Jekel
Dr. Eugene (Gene) Carl Jekel, a 1952 Hope College graduate and chemistry faculty leader for nearly four decades, passed away at the age of 95 on December 20, 2025.
He graduated cum laude from Hope College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in chemistry. He went on to earn his master’s degree in chemistry at Purdue University, where he also met his future wife, Elaine Zimmerman. Gene started teaching at Hope in 1955, while Dr. Elaine (Zimmerman) Jekel began teaching chemistry at Hope in 1960, also the year they married. They both retired from Hope’s faculty in 1993, with Gene retiring as the Edward A. and Elizabeth Hofma Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Elaine retired as an adjunct professor emerita of chemistry. She passed away in March 2015.
Both were honored in August 2023, with a painting commissioned by the Department of Chemistry at Hope College. The painting – titled “Your Light” – was done by their grandchild and artist, Tails Jekel. It was installed in the A. Paul Schaap Science Center, recognizing them both for their impact on chemistry education — and tens of thousands of students — across the country and around the world through the long-running “NSF Summer Institute” program at Hope for high school teachers. The Jekels coordinated this program from 1964 through 1991. The program was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and designed for teachers of Advanced Placement and second-year high school chemistry.
With the exception of four years during which the NSF funded no summer programs for high school teachers, the program ran 24 times without interruption. The program was recognized nationally with the American Chemistry Society’s Catalyst Award in 1985, and Eugene received Hope’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987. (Read more about this story here).
During his tenure at Hope College, Gene served two three-year terms as chair of the Department of Chemistry and became coordinator of the general chemistry lecture and laboratory courses beginning in 1976. In 1977, he was appointed Hope College’s chief advisor for the health professions and served as faculty sponsor for the Michigan Beta Chapter and the national honorary Alpha Epsilon Delta. He also served as a reader for the national AP chemistry examination. In recognition of his excellence in teaching college chemistry, Gene received the National Catalyst Award from the Chemical Manufacturers Association in 1985.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Johanna Jekel; his wife, Dr. Elaine Zimmerman Jekel; brother Glen Jekel; and his great-granddaughter, Halle Rose Follett. Gene is survived by his children, Tim (Karen) Jekel and Karen (Steve) Palmateer; his grandchildren, Rachael (Josh) Follett, Hannah, Clara, and Isaac Jekel, and Matthew, Joel, and Abigail Palmateer; and his great-grandchildren, Nala, Lily, Weston, and Caleb Follett. He is also survived by his brother, Ivan (Barbara) Jekel, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.
Visitation will be held from 4–7 p.m. on Friday, January 2, at Third Reformed Church, 111 West 13th Street, Holland, Michigan. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, at the church, followed by refreshments. Cremation has taken place at Lake Michigan Crematory in Holland, Michigan. A private family burial will take place at New Groningen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, PO Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895 or the Hope College Dr. Eugene C. Jekel and Dr. Elaine Z. Jekel Award Endowment Fund, PO Box 9000, Holland, MI, 49422-9000.