In memoriam of David Roodvoets

RICOWI Lifetime Honorary Member, David Lee Roodvoets, 86, of Montague, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Jordan Loudon, the executive director of RICOWI, Inc, shared a little about David, "Dave was an integral member of RICOWI, having been the Program Coordinator and report writer for the hail and wind investigations since the very first hail storm investigation in 2005.  He contributed so much to the roofing industry, and his presence will be greatly missed."

David was born in 1938, in Grand Rapids, MI, the son of John and Sarah (VanDyke) Roodvoets. Dave graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1956. He attended Calvin College and Michigan State University, where he earned a BSc in Packaging Engineering in 1961. He went on to earn an MBA from Central Michigan University in 1976.

He was an associate scientist at Dow Chemical for over 30 years where he developed applications for foam and plastic materials. We can thank him for Ziploc bags and blame him for bag-in-box wine. His involvement in the development of an innovative industrial roofing panel enabled him to launch a second career as a consultant in the roofing industry. He led hurricane damage investigations, conducted wind tunnel and environmental exposure tests used to develop construction standards and was a regular speaker at association conferences. He contributed to the improved survival of newer homes and buildings in extreme storms. He was still actively working until the end.

Dave married his high school sweetheart, Lois (Doornbos) in 1958. His life was occasionally marked by tragedy with the untimely death of his daughter Laurel in 1968 and his wife in 2006, but he remained a model of steadfast faith in God and loving support for his family. He felt himself extremely blessed to have hosted extended summer visits with family at his home on White Lake. He was proud of his Dutch heritage and hosted traditional oliebollen (fat ball) parties for neighbors and family every spring and fall.

Dave was active in the Reformed Church throughout his life, serving as a Sunday school teacher, elder, Bible study leader, grief counselor, deliverer of Thanksgiving baskets, occasional Nativity shepherd and sloppy joe chef. He contributed to his community as a reading tutor in local schools, a Stephen Minister supporting adults in crisis and a champion of environmental remediation with the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee.

He loved travel and visited every continent except Antarctica. Classical music from Blue Lake radio played from breakfast through dinner at his home and he was a season subscriber to the West Michigan Symphony. He read extensively and was particularly fond of WWII history.

He was a man of warmth and intelligence, with boundless energy to help others and get involved wherever he could be of use. He loved his family and friends deeply and demonstrated it through so many caring actions. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pound Buddies of Muskegon, the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee, Ferry Memorial Reformed Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.