Thomas Newhof

Thomas Newhof, age 88, of Grand Rapids, reached his heavenly home with much joy on Tuesday morning, June 24, 2025. There he realized his heart’s desire, to meet his LORD and Savior face to face. Tom, son of Thomas and Helen (Douma), was born November 20, 1936. He was a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School (1954). Tom earned his Bachelor of Arts (1958) from Calvin College. He was quick to say that he majored in Basketball and Mathematics in college, “in that order.” At Calvin, Tom excelled both academically and athletically. He was Calvin’s first recipient of the NAIA All-American Award. He continued his education at the University of Michigan where he earned both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (1960) and a Masters in Sanitary Engineering (1961). During his college years he met his life-long love, faithful companion, partner in everything, and best encourager Garretta (Greta) Lubbers, whom he married in August 1960. After returning to Grand Rapids, Tom worked as a licensed professional engineer (PE), focusing primarily on water and wastewater treatment and any other civil engineering service a client might need. In 1969, he and Ed Prein founded Prein&Newhof, with the goal of creating a civil engineering firm to further advance public health in Michigan, finding solutions to infrastructure challenges by first understanding the problem, “seeing the big picture,” proposing the best long-term solution, always with a lead engineer following a project from start to finish to ensure the outcome was delivered as promised. In 1974, they opened a laboratory to test drinking water and wastewater. Today, the company employs more than 160 people. Tom was a regular presence in the office until 2020, when the pandemic response required remote work. He loved engineering, the math and science, the challenge, the communities, the solutions, his professional colleagues, and especially his team members at Prein&Newhof. Tom’s experience included planning and design of water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities, intakes, pipelines, pumping stations, storm drainage and flood control projects, water and sewer systems, airport improvements, industrial parks, residential plats, and condominiums.

Tom was involved in many professional and non-profit organizations, often instrumental in starting and leading them. He was never too busy to take on another challenge if he believed the goal was important. He was a life-long member of First Protestant Reformed Church, where he served on the Radio Committee, the Building Committee, and as a Deacon and an Elder. He believed that a good education was very important and felt blessed to receive this himself through the direction of his parents. He worked faithfully to provide this for others. He served on the boards of Adams Street Christian School, Covenant Christian High School, and Eastside Christian School. He felt called by God to start Eastside Christian School and served as its first Board president and its Foundation Board president. He served as an advisor to those who started Redeemer Christian School. He served on the Covenant Christian High School long range planning committee for decades. He also served as an adjunct professor of Environmental Engineering at Calvin College and as a Senior Design Project Mentor. He and Greta worked with Calvin to establish scholarships supporting engineering students and graduates of Eastside Christian in memory of dear friends who preceded him to heaven and then to honor the memory of Tom’s beloved basketball coach Barney Steen, who saw potential in him and encouraged him to reach it. He served on the University of Michigan Civil & Environmental Engineering Alumni Advisory Council, and he and Greta established a scholarship for U of M engineering students. He served on the Borchardt Conference Planning Committee for high level presentations on the latest research in water and wastewater. He saw the “forever chemicals” challenge in our water and knew water treatment research needed to advance. To encourage drinking water treatment research and to honor the memory of his Michigan engineering professors, he and Greta created the [Dr. Jack] Borchardt-[Dr Gene] Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize, which is now awarded at the triennial Borchardt Conferences. When the Dutch House in Ann Arbor, his home while a student, was in disrepair, he and other alumni started a non-profit to restore it. In 2004, the University of Michigan honored Tom as a Distinguished Alumnus.

Tom encouraged his Prein&Newhof employees and other colleagues to be active in professional associations to continue advancing their knowledge and understanding of civil engineering as well as to build relationships, which were hallmarks of his and Ed’s business success and also an essential aspect of Tom’s life. He was a member of the American Water Works Association and served as Chair of its Michigan Section as well as on many committees. He was also a member of the Michigan Water Environment Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Academy of Environmental Engineers, American Membrane Technology Association, Michigan Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council, and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers.

He also served on the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra Board, the Evergreen Lake Office Park Board, and the Darby Farms Association Board. While on a cruise around Australia and New Zeeland, Tom and Greta met Dr. Ingrid Visser who tracks, researches, and works to protect the Orca Whale population. She was funding her research by giving lectures and guided whale sightings aboard cruise ships. Impressed by Dr. Visser’s vision and skill and with his love these amazing creatures, Tom suggested that they work together to set up a non-profit in the United States so that she could receive donations from others like him and Greta who she met on these cruises and anyone else who would like to further her work. She loved the idea and together they established “Adopt an Orca”.

Tom was a faithful son and brother, a wonderful husband, a great father, and a beloved grandfather. He was unassuming, gracious, kind, honest, wise, courageous, loyal, determined, and devoted. He loved spending time with his family. He and Greta enjoyed music, traveling, reading, hiking, watching and participating in sports, designing, learning, teaching, guiding, and supporting. Tom also really enjoyed refinishing furniture for his family.

Above all, Tom was a child of God who loved the Lord his God with all of his heart, his soul, his mind, and his strength, and he loved his neighbor as himself.

Tom is survived by his wife, Greta; their five children - Linda (Eric) Gustafson, Julia (Philip) Rainey, Thomas J (Meribeth) Newhof, Anne (Bruce) Miedema, and Elizabeth (Theodore) Boelema – and their eleven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren (with two more expected soon) - Anna (Chad) Wassink [Thomas, Jay, Henry], John (Kalee) Gustafson [Elise, Greta, Ayla], Kirsten (Reed) Bowden [Roran, Ryder, Rhys, Katia], Karl (Deena) Gustafson [Madelyn], Jordan (Megan) Newhof [Sibyl], Brent (fiancée Madelyn Monsma) Newhof, Zoe Newhof, Joel (Taylor) Miedema [Charles, Elizabeth], Audra (Timothy) Wright [Elaine, Henry], Abigail Miedema, and Olivia (Brad) Wynalda. He is also survived by his sister, Clarice Newhof; and by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Case and Fran Lubbers and Lamm and MaryBeth Lubbers. In addition to his parents and baby brother, Samuel, Tom was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rev. George and Rena Lubbers; and sister-in-law, Agatha Lubbers.

The family extends its deep appreciation to the caregivers at Holland Home’s Raybrook Manor and those from Interim Home Health Care who have provided so much support and love to Tom and Greta. 

Visitation will be Thursday, June 26, from 5-7 p.m. at First Protestant Reformed Church, 2800 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. A private family burial will be held on Friday morning, with a public memorial service at 2 p.m. at First Protestant Reformed Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Eastside Christian School, Redeemer Christian School, or make a designated gift to the Thomas and Garretta Newhof/Prein&Newhof Research Fund at the VanAndel Institute. This fund was established in 2019 by Prein&Newhof in recognition of Tom’s (and Greta’s) 50 years of continual service to the company, with the goal to further Parkinson’s Disease research.