John and Doris Van Dellen Music Scholarship

John Van Dellen and Doris Van Dellen, brother and sister, are both graduates of Calvin College. Doris graduated in 1939 with a B.A. degree and a major in Music. John graduated in 1942 with a B.A. degree and majors in History and Political Science. Both were active during their four years at Calvin in the Acapella Choir directed at that time by Prof. S. Swets. Doris sang as a soloist with the Choir and sang frequently in the Grand Rapids Churches. During his college days John sang in a male quartet whose members continued to sing together for many years.
Upon graduation Doris taught for three years at Oakdale Christian School after which she joined The Michigan Trust Company which later merged with Old Kent Bank. For 45 years Doris remained with the Old Kent Bank and became one of the first women Vice Presidents in the history of local banking. She retired completely in 1987 and devoted herself with her usual enthusiasm and thoroughness to her lovely garden, to tennis, to LaGrave Church, and to her family and friends. Doris died August 11, 1988 after a brief bout with cancer.
John went from Calvin College to the University of Michigan Law School from where, in 1943, he was drafted into the army. For four years he served in Africa and Italy with the 91st Infantry Division. During the war, John was called upon to sing for various occasions, one of which was the dedication of the American Cemetery in Milan, Italy. After the war, John returned to Grand Rapids and joined his father in the real estate business where he remained as owner of R. Van Dellen, Realtors and later, also owner of the Fletcher Realty Company.