Jan VanKooten

I am a life-long music educator (beginning as far back as sixth grade) presently retired. Having earned a BA in Music Education from Dordt College and a Master of Music from Arizona State University, I have taught music privately and in elementary and secondary schools in Virginia, Texas, Colorado and Alaska, until arriving in MI in 2004. I enjoyed serving Shawnee Park CRChurch as choir director, accompanist and worship service designer as well as doing statistics and scoring for Calvin's women's athletic teams.

My husband Gerry is a retired geology professor from Calvin College who works as a consultant for Petrochemical Resources of Alaska where he is involved in several projects for Alaskan native corporations.  He is loves the challenge of varied work, much of which he performs remotely, thus able to boat, fish and hunt when on a break.

Our daughters Crystal and Kara  are pursuing careers in English education and physical therapy, respectively.  We live on the Moose River in Sterling, Alaska where our Kenai Peninsula cabin makes a wonderful retirement home.