Sander de Haan

Sander “Sandy” de Haan, age 78, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He died at home peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family in Byron Center, MI. Born in 1945 in Vinkeveen, Netherlands to Cornelius and Nelly de Haan, he emigrated to the United States in 1953. Sander crossed the Atlantic Ocean at the age of seven. After entering the US through Ellis Island, NY, the family settled in Pella, IA, joining other de Haan family members who had immigrated there previously among a thriving Dutch American farming community.

As part of a devoutly Christian family, Sander and his seven siblings attended Pella Christian Schools where he excelled at a variety of sports including baseball and basketball which he continued to play throughout his college career. During his senior year at Pella Christian High School (PCHS), Sander met the love of his life, Georgia Terpstra, the fourth of six children – all daughters – by George and Pauline Terpstra, from neighboring Newton, IA. Sander and Georgia shared a profound connection rooted in faith that endured their entire lives and which they shared with their children and grandchildren.

The young couple continued their courtship at Calvin College (now Calvin University) located in Grand Rapids, MI, where Sander studied German. He and Georgia were married before God, family, and friends on August 26, 1966, at Pella One Christian Reformed Church. Sander continued his education at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he pursued a Ph.D. in German language and literature. In 1969, his graduate studies were interrupted by a mandatory call to service draft notice from the United States Army to join the war effort during the Vietnam War, which as a proud naturalized US citizen he dutifully answered. Thanks to his unique linguistic abilities, he entered a rigorous and intensive language training program at Syracuse University in New York State where he learned and became fluent in the Russian language. Sander was stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany, where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and served his country as a spy listening to, transcribing, and reporting on Soviet military conversations, thus contributing to the success of US military operations, both at the time and in future conflicts. While stationed in West Germany, Sander and Georgia were blessed with the birth of their firstborn son, Christopher George, in 1972.

In 1973, Sander and his family returned to the US to complete his Ph.D. at Northwestern in 1980 after which he accepted a teaching position at his undergrad alma mater, Calvin. In 1976, the couple was blessed with their second child, Elizabeth Ann. Sander and Georgia completed their growing family with the joyous births of their two youngest sons, Alexander Paul in 1977 and Nicholas Peter in 1979.

Later that same year, Sander accepted a professorship in German (later adding Russian and Dutch to his teaching load) at Hope College in nearby Holland where he also served as the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Culture for 15 years. Sander was avidly involved in college life as an educator, faculty advisor to the local Centurion men’s fraternity chapter on campus, and a mentor for the Kids Hope USA program at Hope. Sander adored his children and grandchildren, enjoying their academic, artistic, and athletic achievement as part of Holland and Byron Center Christian Schools. Throughout his life and to his very last days, Sander was deeply involved in Christian worship, ministry, and missions at Calvin CRC, where he served for more than 40 years as an elder, a member of the choir, and an active church member, and in his later years Calvary and First Cutlerville CRCs joyfully bearing witness for Jesus Christ.

He is preceded in death by his parents Cornelius and Nelly; sister, Tina (de Haan) Westra; two younger brothers Peter and Case de Haan; sister-in-law, Victoria de Haan; and brothers-in-law Chester Geels, Gerald Kuiper, Henry Stavinga, Charles VanWaardhuizen, Gerald Schuiling; and niece and nephew Michelle and Aaron VanWaardhuizen. Sander is survived by his wife of 57 years, Georgia de Haan; children Christopher, Elizabeth (de Haan) Boeve and her husband Kevin and their two daughters Olivia and Samantha, Alexander and his wife Rachel and their four boys Jacob, Charles, Clayton, and Deacon, and Nicholas and his partner Jose; siblings Corrine Smeda, Guy and MaryAn, Ralph and LuAnn, Frederick; sisters-in-law Paula de Haan, Gretta Geels, Nancy Kuiper, Carole Stavinga, Frances VanWaardhuizen, Myrna Schuiling; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and friends, all of whom will remember Sander for his love of God, family, sports, travel, card games, and his almost 40 years of educating students and sharing his faith with the community at Hope College in Holland, MI.

Visitation with friends and relatives will be from 6 - 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at Cook Funeral Home, 2067 84th Street, Byron Center, MI 49315. A celebration of Sander’s life will commence at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2024, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at First Cutlerville CRC, 1425 68th Street SW, Byron Center, MI 49315. Pastor Josh VanDrunen will be officiating. Interment will be at Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, MI.

In honor of Sander and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to following charities or a nonprofit of your choice: Kids Hope USA (https://kidshopeusa.org/donate), Byron Center Christian School (https://www.bccs.org/support-us), World Renew (CRWRC) (https://worldrenew.net/donate), or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org).

The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresbyron.com in their guest book online.