Henry Beukema, a WMU alumnus and an engineering graphics professor emeritus, taught in the Dept. of Industrial and Engineering Technology for 35 years before retiring in 1977. A dedicated WMU fan, he kept a WMU flag in his window until he passed away on Nov. 23, 2005.
Henry Beukema 1938 He was born Feb. 21, 1915, to Johanna (Fisher) and Hilbert Beukema in Grand Haven, MI, where he grew up.
After graduating from Muskegon College of Business and Technology, he came to WMU in 1938, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He then taught high school courses in industrial education in Algonac and earned a master’s at U of M.
In 1943, Beukema returned to WMU to teach drafting and engineering graphics to 800 US Navy sailors for two years. Over the years, he came to be identified with his drafting classes.
According to emeritus industrial engineering professor Robert Boughner, taking a drafting course from Beukema was standard fare in the program: “Henry was the senior professor in the drafting area for 100,000 years; everyone took a drafting course from Henry.”
Beukema became a full professor at WMU in 1964. In addition to his coursework, he was involved with many societies and organizations, actively recruited for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, consulted with the U. S. Department of Defense, and co-authored 23 volumes of high school and college textbooks, primarily in the areas of engineering graphics and welding technology. During his summers and school breaks, he worked with many local companies.
Henry Beukema (front, 3rd from right) with
Bronco Marching Band for Centennial Celebration 2003
Several emeriti professors remember Beukema as a very hardworking professor – a ‘crusty Dutchman’ who always had time to mentor and support students and colleagues. Engineering technology emeritus professor Dr. John Lindbeck, who came to WMU in 1957, described Beukema as “very helpful” as a mentor in both teaching and writing.
“I was fresh out of college, kind of green, and teaching descriptive geometry, and he was always willing to sit down and offer some ideas,” Lindbeck said. “Then when I started writing textbooks and was having some problems with a book on product design, he - as a seasoned writer – told me how to set up a schedule and how to begin.”
Music was one of Beukema’s favorite pastimes. As an undergraduate, he joined the WMU marching band, where he organized a recruitment campaign that increased the size of the band and added WMU’s first female majorette and flag carriers. He continued to support it as an alumnus. For WMU’s 2003 Centennial Celebration, he played his trumpet with the marching band during the halftime ceremonies. His wheelchair prevented the band’s oldest member from marching.
Those who knew him remember that Henry Beukema always enjoyed a good martini. Next summer, his family and friends will celebrate Henry’s life and raise a toast “To the North” in a gathering at his Wall Lake summer home in Delton. According to Henry’s daughter, Susan Trudeau, who also provided the photos in this IMe-News, the inspiration for the “To the North” toast may have been Henry’s annual deer hunting trip to the UP, but it became his standard toast for all occasions.
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