In times of tragedy, Christians remember that God is good. He is the author, sustainer and giver of life. When life is taken tragically, we are shaken but held firmly by a God who loves us and who knows the pain of separation.
In our fallen condition, death is a reality. Our hope is that when we know Jesus as our Savior, life on earth is not the end. Jesus spent years on earth teaching us these truths. Truths where we find deep and abiding comfort.
Jesus was known as the Great Teacher. He taught in synagogues, taught along the road, taught around the dinner table, on the shore of the sea...even while hanging on a cross. He was known as “Teacher” to all who loved him.
As family and friends celebrated the life of Wally Hoeksema, they celebrated his life of teaching. Teaching in the traditional sense, but also teaching those among him the truths of God that he leaned on and believed with all his heart. Wally Hoeksema was a great teacher, who modeled The Great Teacher, Jesus.
Walt taught his family the importance of loving each other well. Walt deeply loved his wife of fifty five years, Jan and his children, Matt and Jennifer. He modeled his love to Jan and their children daily. He sacrificed for them, showed interest in them individually and told them often how much he loved them. When grandchildren came along, they became his “crowning jewel”. He wasn’t above telling people that his grandchildren were better than anyone else’s! He took great pride in each of them, enjoying spending time attending their activities and doing life together. Two of Walt’s grandsons reminisced together at the funeral visitation. They remembered as little boys looking up at their grandpa, whom they considered a “funny giant”. (At 6’8”, that seems about right.) They both told stories about how funny he was, how much he loved the Spartans and how he was always so curious about what was going on in their lives...about how much he loved them.
Walt taught balance. Ryder, a grandson, talked about how he wanted to carry that balance out in his own life. He saw how his grandpa balanced his work life and his family. He knew there was space for both. Walt’s teaching partner, Mike also saw Walt’s teaching of balance during his successful career at Ferris State University. He was a demanding professor and yet a compassionate mentor. He was a colleague and also a friend. Walt and Mike’s department head at Ferris had posters made of the two professors, depicting them as the “smiling assasins”. The two were known to demand the best of their students but do it in a way that made students feel valued and loved….with smiles of course.
Walt taught that life should be enjoyed. He was a great lover of life and all its joys. He loved to joke around and laugh. Humor was part of Walt’s everyday life. But let’s be honest, what better way to enjoy life than to cheer for the Spartans? Walt enjoyed watching and attending many years of MSU games. Walt’s son Matt recalled keeping up with his dad’s long stride as a child as they “hoofed it” to the stadium to watch games together. Win or lose, they stayed until the end. Enjoying the atmosphere and the time together.
Most importantly, Walt taught his children and grandchildren the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. He knew that this was the most important thing on earth. Many phone conversations with his children included the question, “How is your relationship with God?”. Walt knew the Great Teacher well. When his time on earth was drawing to a close, he was eager to meet his Savior and be reunited with his beloved grandson, Riley. His comfort in death was evident when Jan asked him within hours of his passing, how he was doing. His answer? “Wonderful”. He knew that his wait on earth was almost through.
Great teachers are known for the lessons they teach and how they taught those who were learning. They teach with authority, passion and patience. They meet students where they are but challenge them to keep moving and learning. Walt Hoeksema was a great teacher who followed and learned at the feet of THE GREAT TEACHER. He will be missed greatly by those who knew and loved him. May those left behind continue to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn together until we meet again.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8