1.24.12
Mrs. Bess Tolsma - 2/5/1905 - 1/20/2012
Just two weeks short of what would have been her 107th birthday, Mrs. Bess Tolsma, former teacher at Timothy, entered glory. Mrs. Tolsma taught at Timothy for 30 years at the Cicero location. Bess and her husband Richard (grade school principal) both retired in 1968. She was a well-loved educator and was a positive influence on many peoples' lives. Her obituary states " She will be remembered for her joyful, enduring and active countenance." The Timothy community is blessed to have her as a part of our history and thankful for the wonderful legacy she leaves behind.
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8
Click here to read her obituary.Below are some exerpts from newspapers and Reflector articles about Mrs. Tolsma throughout the years.
August 21, 2011 - Michigan Newspaper Article:
Click here to read story featuring Mrs. Tolsma from the Grand Rapids Press
Reflector, Spring 2010
105th Birthday!
It’s not often that you can capture 72 years of Timothy teaching experience in a picture of two teachers, but that’s exactly what took place earlier this year. George and Carolyn Bosman were able to recently visit with former Timothy teacher, Mrs. Bess Tolsma. Bess taught at Timothy for 30 years.
Bess and her husband Richard (grade school principal) both retired in 1968. In 1967, George began his 42 years at Timothy teaching sixth grade with Mrs. Tolsma as his mentor. He taught with her for only one year, but gleaned a whole career’s worth of teaching insight from her. “I tried to model her teaching style and we were very much in tune in our appreciation for the Timothy community and our love for preadolescent and adolescent kids,” said Bosman. “We would share many stories in our teaching days- both touching and hilarious moments. She always saw the positive in every child that she taught, and I tried to do the same. That simple idea always made teaching profoundly rewarding.”
In February, Mrs. Tolsma celebrated her 105th birthday. As sharp as ever, Mrs. Tolsma still cooks all her own meals, has her own e-mail address, and has been the activities director of her building at Raybrook Manor in Grand Rapids, Michigan for over 10 years.
Bess on Her Spiritual Journey
Click here to read Article from February 28, 2009
Reflector, Fall 2009
Phyllis ’64 and Ken ’63 Wezeman This husband and wife team are prolific authors, primarily in publications focusing on children, counseling, church education, and worship. Their titles are too many to mention, but a Google or Amazon search will uncover vast resources for anyone working in these areas of church life.
Phyllis is currently working to revise and update her out-of-print book on HIV and AIDS for a different publisher, which will be published with the title Through the Heart: Creative Methods of HIV and AIDS Education. She points to teacher Bess Tolsma as a significant influence: “She encouraged me to explore and also encouraged projects that met the interest of each of her students.”
Reflector: Winter, 2005
“I appreciate receiving the newsletter every week. Thank you very much. This past weekI celebrated my 100th birthday and I received many cards from former pupils and I appreciated that very much. If you put out a weekly bulletin to the parents,
will you thank them for me? It was a great day to have seen so many of my former pupils and I was able to remember them as they sat in my class room. I give praise to God for all of the many blessings.”
- Bess Tolsma