James Wyngaarden

In gratitude to God for His blessings over the years, Dr. James B. Wyngaarden of Durham, North Carolina has established this scholarship to honor his mother, Mrs. Johanna Kempers Wyngaarden. The purpose of this scholarship fund is to strengthen Christian education in music and fine arts at Calvin College by providing funds for scholarships for worthy students. Preference will be given to students of piano and painting, respectively.

Johanna Kempers was born on a farm near Hull, Iowa, in 1896, and received her early education in a one-room schoolhouse. The family worshipped in the Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She attended the public high school in Sioux Center where she met Martin Wyngaarden who was then principle of the 8-grade Christian school. While in high school she studied drawing, watercolor and oil painting with a local artist. She then attended Calvin College before returning to Sioux Center Christian School to teach for five years.

In 1920 she married Martin Wyngaarden shortly after his graduation from Calvin Theological Seminary. They then moved to Philadelphia, where Martin began his graduate studies in Semitic languages, and where Johanna studied piano at the Combs Conservatory.

In 1924 Martin Wyngaarden was called to the Chair of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary where he served until his retirement in 1961. They then moved to Massachusetts where Martin served as a research librarian at Gordon Seminary, while Johanna resumed her career as an artist. She spent many happy hours producing oil paintings of landscapes, seascapes and still life. They later returned to Grand Rapids where Martin died in 1978 and Johanna in 1981.

Johanna Kempers Wyngaarden is lovingly remembered by her children as a warm and nurturing Christian mother who filled the home with music, art and inspirational prayers.