Wallace "Pete" Marvin DeMaagd

Wallace M. “Pete” De Maagd, passed away in Holland on September 30, 2019. Born in Grand Rapids on September 14, 1928, Pete graduated from Creston High School in 1946, Grand Rapids Junior College in 1948 and Michigan State University in 1950. On May 7, 1955, he married the love of his life, Lois A. “Tuti” Havinga. Pete and Tuti had no children. In November of 1950, he was drafted in the Army during the Korean War and served two years. Pete joined the Grand Rapids Press as a fulltime reporter in June of 1950 after serving as a summer intern in 1949. During the next 52 years, he worked in various positions with the Press. The last 26 years, Pete was a daily columnist with his “Pete’s Day” and weekly restaurant review column with his wife “Dinning out with Pete and Tuti”. Over the years, Pete was very active with local organizations. In the area of the Arts, he served as Festival of the Arts Co-Chair in 1980 and other various capacities of the Arts festival from 1976-2005. He was a member/officer of the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids; board member/President 1989-1990 of the Circle Theatre; and on the Advisory Board for Very Special Arts. In the area of Education, Pete was a board member/President in the 1990’s of Michigan State University- College of Communication Arts and Sciences Alumni Association; board member/President in the 1960’s of the Kent County Chapter of the Michigan State University Alumni Association; and named to the first board of the Grand Rapids Junior College Alumni Association. Other past privileges for Pete were, President of the Press Club of Grand Rapids from 1978-79; President of the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Fund; board member of the Kent County Chapter of the American Red Cross; board member for 20 plus years and past “Chief Drip” of Dunkers Society, which is a local fund-raising/entertaining organization. Pete was a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Kent County. Vicky’s Pet Connection (an animal rescue); the Salvation Army which he chaired more than a dozen years with the Media Bell Ringers during Christmas time; the Cystic Fibrosis Society; American Cancer Society of Greater Grand Rapids and others. Pete was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and served on many of its committees over the years. He started the church monthly newsletter, The Informant and was its editor for 18 years. Pete loved and supported the Theater, loved to travel, play tennis, read, watch sports, volunteering and of course eating and trying all sorts of food! Immeasurable thanks and appreciation to Hospice of Holland for their kindness and caring. Keeping with Pete’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services are scheduled.