ROZEMA, Wesley James

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Wesley James Rozema, 80, formerly of Flagstaff, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, at the Loveland Hospice Care Center in Loveland, Colo. Mr. Rozema was born Oct. 23, 1930, in Grand Rapids, Mich. He attended Calvin College, where he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He married Ruth Vida Smitter, also of Grand Rapids, in 1950; they were married 60 years. Mr. Rozema taught high school on the Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico from 1955 to 1963. In addition to teaching math and physics, he directed the choir. In 1963, he moved his family to Flagstaff. He was a professor of mathematics at Northern Arizona University for 32 years. He especially enjoyed his involvement in teacher training programs for math teachers on reservation schools. Some of his summers were spent working with the U.S. Geological Survey doing terrain studies for lunar vehicles. He also spent a few summers driving a Pepsi-Cola truck on the Navajo Nation. He was a charter member of Hope Community Church, where he served as Elder and choir director for many years. Mr. Rozema retired from NAU in 1995 and moved with Ruth to Sedona. He became very involved in relief work with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, making trips to Malawi, Africa, Nicaragua and several places in the United States that were affected by natural disasters. He had a passion for bringing help to people in need. He was a man of integrity, humility, humor, compassion and peace. He had an exceptionally generous spirit. He loved to spend time with his family -- hiking, fishing, traveling, singing and going to gather wood. He enjoyed engaging in "pun wars" with anyone willing to participate. Mr. Rozema is survived by his loving wife, Ruth; children Carole (Jim) McMurray of Dillingham, Alaska, Margie (Ruben) Campos of Huntington Beach, Calif., David (Judith) Rozema of Kearney, Neb., Ellen (Les) Willsey of Mesa, and Mark (Leann) Rozema of Lynnwood, Wash.; brother Don (Barb) Rozema of Phoenix; sister Virginia Kreeft of Denver; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. His life will be celebrated by friends and family at Hope Community Church in Flagstaff on Saturday at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to support the relief work of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.