William Kamstra

William “Bill” Kamstra was enfolded into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at the age of 98. Born in the Netherlands, he was the second son of the late Joe and Wilma Kamstra. During World War II he served as an Operational NCO with the U.S. Chinese Combat Command. He was a Calvin University graduate and earned a Specialist Degree from Michigan State University. Bill earned his Doctorate at the University of Michigan and concentrated on secondary education. He served as principal at Grand Rapids Christian High School for eleven years and at Jenison High School for 18 years. Bill’s interest in education continued into retirement. He frequently taught in the Calvin Academy of Lifelong learning in the Crossroads Institute and in the Friendship Ministry. He gave numerous public lectures on the Civil War and on Abraham Lincoln. He served as a trustee of the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Foundation. For 25 years, Bill served his church as an elder, deacon, society leader, as a National Chairman of the 1960 Young Calvinist Convention and later as the National Secretary of the Men’s Federation.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Adrianna; his grandson, Kevin and granddaughter, Amy De Kock; brother, Clare Kamstra and his sister, Anne Holkeboer. He will be mourned by his children, Rev. Dr. Doug and Marilyn Kamstra, Carol and Roger Veldkamp, Dan and Anne Kamstra. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Brian and Jessica Kamstra, Joel and Maribeth Kamstra, Eric and Emily Kamstra, Sara and Mike Vander Woude, David and Rachael Veldkamp, Scott De Kock, William J. Kamstra, London C. Kamstra. He will be missed as their beloved “Opa” by his great grandchildren, Maddox, Thys, Collins, Mason, Rylin, Evan, Cassius, Oliver, Gunnar, Judah, Crew, Emerson, Clara, Lucy, Teddy, Simon, and Madeline. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, David Holkeboer, Marty Voortman, Peg Bykerk, Mary Van Dyke, Gert Wolfert; many nieces, nephews, colleagues and friends.

Funeral services will be held 11 am Saturday, December 9 at Raybrook Manor Chapel, 2121 Raybrook SE, Grand Rapids, with Rev. Dr. Doug Kamstra officiating. Burial will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Relatives and friends may greet the family Friday from 5-8 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood and on Saturday from 10-11 am prior to the service at Raybrook Manor Chapel. Those who wish may make memorial contributions in Bill’s memory to G.R. Christian Schools, 2400 Plymouth Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 or Jenison Public Schools, 8375 20th Ave., Jenison, MI 49428. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.