What a great teacher at Tappan! Sorry about your loss.

My favorite memory of my Uncle Paul was probably from my childhood.  I grew up outside of Michigan but my family would come up to Michigan to visit Gramma, Grampa and my uncles in the summer.  I remember being quite a big puzzle fanatic and putting puzzles together in the basement at their house in Michigan.  Uncle Paul would come down smiling and whistling with a big cup of coffee and lay down to help me with the puzzle.  I can still hear that whistle.  I'll always love that whistle. And that big smile.

Dear Robyn and family, Larry and I share your loss with deepest sympathy. I didn't know Paul that well, but was able to see the beautiful life you shared through the pictures in your home. May the memories of Paul bring you peace through smiles, laughter, and tears of joy and sorrow. Our thoughts continue to be with you.

Dear Robyn,
One of my great pleasures was to have played golf with Paul (and others) and one of my great regrets is that Paul and I were not able to put together a time for a game after we both moved to Stonebridge.  Maybe in the great hereafter we'll pull it off.
Much love,
Dick Trim (and Kathy, too)

Robyn, I remember many discussions with Paul over multiple cups of coffee about the best brands of coffee. We both loved a good cup of coffee and he thought my latest was a good brand and it was just Eight O'Clock. Must just be better when you don't have to make it yourself. Will miss our many talks over coffee. We love you lots and will keep you in our prayers

Robyn, We always thought of Paul as the silver haired fox. Going to miss the MSU and U  of M rivalry. You will have to continue the tradition! All our prayers and love. 

Don,Sharon,Lynn, and Karen

My favorite memory; Just after Paul & Robyn moved up to Torch Lake I was watching Paul outside my kitchen window, after a big snow. There was about 18 inches of snow on his roof and he hired a crew of young men to clean it off with an avalanche snow rake. Chunks of snow about 18 inches cubed were falling off to the ground. Paul was concerned about his new evergreen bushes so he halted the crew until he brought out a 4x8 sheet of plywood for their protection. He held the plywood over his head at a slight angle for snow deflection and instructed them to continue. The first chunk of snow hit center of the plywood slamming it onto Paul's head and then splitting it in half, knocking everyone to the ground. After a few minutes of concern and held back laughter, Paul emerged from the snow grinning and laughing with embarrassment. We all than shared a laugh then, thanks Paul, We miss you.  Mark

Robyn, We always thought of Paul as the silver haired fox. Sure will miss the MSU and U of M rivalry. You will have to keep up the tradition! All our prayers and love. 

Don ,Sharon, Lynn, and Karen

Robyn, we are sad for you and also sad for us because we've lost a friend. We know that your memories of Paul will help sustain you forever.
Peg Eisenstodt and Pete Long

Robyn, you were always a good friend and colleague.  A little over a year ago my wife died.  Nothing prepares us for this.  You are in my heart.

Robyn, I was heart-broken to learn of Paul's passing.  Although I knew Paul for short time, he was a wonderful man and I had a great deal of respected for the way he approached issues.  May god bless you and your family

Thoughts and prayers to family and friends. I also had Mr. Van Colen for Civics class while in Junior High at Tappan. What another very inspirational teacher we were fortunate to have and to have learned so much from. My condolences. -Holly Cooper(Kutkuhn), Clayton, NC

You were always one of my favorite teachers in school. 
                Rebecca Ferguson Cummings

As a Tappan graduate, I just want to express my appreciation for Paul Van Colen.  He was a positive influence on his students and student athletes.  His patience, wit, sense of humor, drive and humility helped to shape who we became.  Thank you Mr. VC.

Sorry to hear of Mr. Van Colen's passing. I learned a LOT from him in my Civics class at Tappan. I especially remember our 1976 Mock Presidential Nomination Convention. A very interesting time in American Politics. My years at Tappan weren't exactly the best of times for me, but he was a bright spot!

Mr. Van Colen was my ninth grade civics teacher at Tappan.  He really made the subject come alive.  I remember him using the John Donne poem "No man is and island" as an analogy for the beginning of WWII, with a map of Germany devouring eastern Europe.  All the girls had crushes on him, as he was still single then.  I'm so happy to hear he found someone to share his life with.  He will be missed.

Mr. Van Colen was an inspirational civics teacher,  and helped bring a bit of pleasure and sanity to the difficult junior high school years. I remember him pushing me to be a leader in our mock Congress and helping me to realize that I had leadership potential. He also encouraged me to be the campaign manager of a candidate for Tappan President of Student Council. Our campaign failed, but Mr. van Colen's faith in me pulled me a bit more out of my adolescent introversion. He was a steady presence and a believer in his students. I am sorry for your loss, but take comfort in the many lives he changed for the better.

Mr. Van Colen was my teacher in the early '70s.  He was wonderful--kind, caring, and encouraging.  We all looked up to him and admired him.  I'm so sorry for your loss.

Mr. Van Colen was my Civics teacher for the 1979-80 school year.  He convinced me to participate as one of the candidates in the mock presidential primary he orchestrated every four years. It was at a time i genuinely needed to be pushed in the right direction. He took the time to do just that. I am now a high school and college Government teacher. I often think about how important it was for me to be to have been a student within his classroom. Thank you Mr. Van Colen. You were the best and all of your students knew that.

To Paul's Family,

I was very fortunate to have had Mr.  Van Colen for a teacher and coach.  He had a positive impact on my life and countless others.  I am so sorry to learn that he has passed and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I was a student of Paul's in the early 80's. He was dynamic, enthusiastic, encouraging, and engaged with his students. I learned much from him, and as a teacher, myself, now, Paul was an early model for how to light up a class. 
My thoughts are with you. I wish for you strength and grace during this time. 
Sincerely, Jane Binns

Dear Robyn and Family:  I had Mr. Van Colen as a teacher in 1980.  I remember him so fondly, and one thing in particular:  one day he asked the class if anyone knew what to do after visiting someone and enjoying your time with them.  I was the only one who knew you had to write a thank you note, having endured writing many of them under my mother's insistence.  He made a strong point of how important it is, and that it was becoming a lost art of politness.  Now, 14 years into being a parent myself, I make all my girls write thank you notes, and have never forgotten how Mr. Van Colen expressed the imprtance of it.  My thoughts are with you, God bless you.  Kathlyne (Mueller) Kreeger

Mr. Van Colen was was my civics teacher in the early 80s and he was one of my favorite teachers.  I still actually remember so much of what he taught me.  I am very sorry for your tragic loss

To Mr Van Colen's family,
I would like to extend to you my deepest sympathies for your loss. I'm another of his former students. I was at Tappan from '79-'82. His Civics class and mock senate has made a lasting impression on me-he was such a wonderful teacher.

Robyn I was so sorry to hear about Paul, he was always such a good friend.  After losing my son in June I know the heartache and sadness you are feeling. Remember all the good times you had, you will be in my  thoughts and prayers.

Mrs. Van Colen and Family,
  I am sorry to hear of Mr. Van Colen's death. I will always remember how he encouraged a quiet, shy 9th grader to take the role of a leader in our "mock" Senate in his Civics class in the early 70's. He was an extremely fair and interesting teacher. And of course, young and handsome. We girls thought he looked like Chad Everett from the tv show "Medical Center"! My prayers and best wishes are with you all on the loss of a very fine man.

Dear Robyn,
Life has such strange twists and turns.  We share so much friendship and loss.
I will be with you in spirit on December 14th.  I will always remember with love 
the friendship the four of us shared.
Nancy Rusten, Mesa, AZ.

Mrs. Van Colen and Family,

I am very sorry for your loss to a wonderful man.

I would like to tell you that Mr. Van Colen was a great person.  I had him for a Civic's teacher but, not only was he my teacher he was my friend and he was  always willing to listen when I needed it the most.  I remember many times when it came time to take a test I couldn't do it but, he was willing to give me my tests in class face to face and I could tell him the answers to all the questions.  Not many people would do that for their students but, he took the extra time to and it meant a lot to me.  He was one  of best teachers I ever had.  He was a great person one that will be missed. 

Marlene Rodriguez

Mr. Van Colen -- even still I can't think of him as "Paul" -- was my basketball coach in 8th and 9th grade at Tappan in the early 1970s as well as my civics teacher. He was a class act all the way around -- fair, focused, good natured, reliable. I regret having lost touch with him over the years, but extend to his survivors my admiration and appreciation as well as my sympathies.

It has been a sad time for the Tappan family as we have lost another member.  The next few weeks and months will be difficult for you, but hopefully your friends will be able to help you through them.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

So sorry to hear of the deaths of two former Tappan colleagues in one week, Paul and Doris Caddell.

Dear Robyn, I was very saddened to hear of Paul's passing. You know that he was both a hero and mentor to me. Since my 9th grade year in his class and my years teaching and coaching with him, he has had a profound influence on my life and who I am.  I am blessed to have known him...and you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I am sorry to learn about Paul Van Colen's passing.  I was just in Ann Arbor for the second Thanksgiving since I left town in 1979 when I saw the notice in the newspaper.  I am a former student of his (from the 1970s).  He was my favorite teacher in the Ann Arbor school system.  He was also a great basketball coach.
John Ostrander (Portland, Oregon)

Dear Robyn, I am so sad to learn about Paul's untimely passing.  I have many fond memories of Paul with your cute little pup following closely behind him.  Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.

Dear Robyn, I am so sorry to hear of Paul's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Anna

Dear Robyn,
 I am thinking about you and your loss of your husband, Paul.  I know  you have many happy memories and I pray they will help you through this difficult time.
Love,

Marie VanSchoten

Robyn and Family
I am out of town for the winter and am so sorry to hear about Paul's passing. I went through school with Paul and he was a wonderful person. Years ago at parents night at Tappan, I sat in his classroom as I had a daughter in his class. We laughed about it at the time. I lost my husband in February and I can feel your heartache. I send my prayers to you as you try to move forward one step at a time. The loss of one's mate and best friend is a horrendous pain. May you know that others care, Jane Fingerle Parker

Robyn & Family,
We were so sorry to hear about Paul.  We hope your shock and sadness is replaced soon by wonderful memories of him.

Robyn - I am saddened to learn of Paul's untimely passing. I'll be among the many who will miss Paul. You will be in my thoughts.

Dear Robyn and family,

We have been thinking of you and Paul a lot lately. We are sorry to hear about his death.  Please know that we are thinking of you.

Suette King and Susan Kosenen

Dear Robyn and family,
 I am so sorry to learn of Paul's passing.   May you find comfort in the memories of the wonderful times you had with Paul.  May your road ahead be a smooth one.
Karen Tuttle

Robyn,  Owen and I are devastated about the loss of such  a wonderful mate.  We tried to visit Saturday but understand you have your hands full.  We will probably not be here for Paul's memorial gathering, but we are available to help in any way until December 4th.  If anyone needs picking up at the airport, being driven around town, etc. please give us a call.   Our thoughts and caring are with you at this sad time and we wish you the best in handling what is ahead.  Ann and Owen

Dear Robyn and family,
Our hearts ache with the news of Paul's passing.  Please know that there are many others who will always fondly remember Paul and who now share your loss.  You are in our thoughts and have our deepest sympathy at this most difficult time.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Paul Rolland Van Colen

19 avril 1938 – 24 novembre 2011

Muehlig Funeral Chapel

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