Van Der Weele, Steve John (1920-) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Born 13 October 1920 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Dan and Cora (Gabrielse) Van Der Weele, Steve John Vander Weele served in the US Army Air Corps (later Air Force), 1942-1945.  He served in the United States and Europe and at Anrath Prison Camp in northern Germany, which served as a collection point for displaced persons after liberation.  After the war he graduated from Calvin College and earned an MS in 1950 and PhD in 1955 from the University of Wisconsin.

He joined the English Department faculty of Calvin College in 1955 and was steadily promoted to full professor.  A teacher and scholar, he published numerous articles and book reviews, even after becoming professor emeritus in 1986.  He was active in Christian and literature groups as well as academic organizations.

In 1950 Van Der Weele married Viola Hugen (1922-2007).  They have two children - Deborah (Robert) Kula and Philip (Joan Snyder) - and two grandchildren.