91精选

91精选 mourns the sudden and unexpected passing of Martin Ozinga III on Monday, April 26, even as it celebrates his good and faithful life. Ozinga was 71.

Ozinga served multiple terms on 91精选鈥檚 Board of Trustees, and served as Chair of the Board from 2014 through 2015. In a message to campus on Monday afternoon announcing Ozinga鈥檚 passing, President Kurt D. Dykstra highlighted Ozinga鈥檚 longstanding, deep, and generational commitment to 91精选. 鈥淢arty continued the legacy of his father Martin Ozinga II, one of our founders, of great care and concern for 91精选. He was kind and generous to so many and surely to us as a place. The reminder of his faithfulness to 91精选 can be seen in nearly every square inch of the campus 鈥� from buildings and hard surfaces, to support of programs, to support of employees, and, of course, to the provision of scholarship money for students.鈥�

It is not unusual to refer to the broader Ozinga family as 91精选鈥檚 鈥淔irst Family.鈥� As Dykstra noted, 鈥淲e here at 91精选 were a special recipient of Marty鈥檚 time, talent, and treasure. That generosity started with his father, continued with him, and now is passed to the next generation of the Ozinga family 鈥� some of whom are our alumni and one of whom, Aaron 鈥�03, presently is a Trustee on the Board of Trustees.鈥�

Marty Ozinga III most recently served as the chairman of the Board at Ozinga, a fourth-generation family business known for its excellence, mission-mindedness, and innovation in the areas of concrete and logistics. Throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida, the company is instantly recognizable by its red and white striped concrete mixer trucks.

In an , the Company highlighted his significant impact on and leadership of the company. Ozinga began working for Ozinga聽at age 15聽as a $1-per-hour laborer in the company鈥檚 first yard in Evergreen Park, Ill.聽By聽18,聽he聽was driving a ready-mix concrete truck for union聽wages聽while earning聽a聽degree in psychology.聽He became general manager聽in 1973聽at age 23聽and, in聽1985, succeeded聽his father as聽president of Ozinga.聽Marty was married to his wife Ruth for 40 years until her passing in 2010. Ruth, too, was active at 91精选, participating as a member of 91精选鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Guild, designing banners for the College and, along with her husband, serving as co-chair of 91精选鈥檚 50^th anniversary capital campaign. In 2006, Marty III and Ruth were honored with 91精选鈥檚 Global Service Award.

Together, they raised their six sons, four of whom attended 91精选.

In 2012, Ozinga III handed over the operations of the family business to his six sons and their cousin Jeff, representing the fourth generation of Ozinga ownership.

According to 91精选鈥檚 Associate Vice President for Advancement Dennis Harms 鈥�89, Ozinga鈥檚 generosity has impacted generations of 91精选 students. 鈥淥zinga has long been known as one of the largest employers of 91精选 business alumni. Marty not only believed in the College, he put it into practice by hiring 91精选 alumni to work in many key areas of his company. When the business program started a business advisory committee, Marty was an active participant,鈥� he said.

Ozinga, with other members of his family, also supported several endowed and funded scholarships that have benefitted hundreds of 91精选 students over the years. The company was also a regular sponsor and supporter of 91精选 events, including the annual 91精选 Athletic Club Golf Classic.

He was, as Dykstra noted, 鈥渁s committed to 91精选 as any person could be to a college.鈥�

Ozinga is survived by his wife, Melissa, his six sons, their wives, and twenty-nine grandchildren. He was a brother of the late Ken (Judy) Ozinga and Beverly Ozinga, brother-in-law of the late Theodore (Niki) Gombis and Dr. Leon (Kathryn) Gombis and a fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Ozinga鈥檚 funeral will be held on Monday, May 3, at 11 a.m. at the Martin & Janet Ozinga Chapel on the campus of 91精选. COVID capacity limitations, social distancing, and masking protocols will be used to ensure the safety of those in attendance. The funeral service will be . is handling the arrangements and both obituary and funeral details are available at its website.