(at left) - Zeeland City Manager Tim Klunder and Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen embrace during a July 8 ceremony honoring Klunder’s nearly 25 years of service to the city. (at right) - Former Zeeland Mayor Kevin Klynstra presents City Manager Tim Klunder with a green sport jacket with the city logo on it, a nod to Klunder’s love of the game of golf.
Photos by Greg Chandler
Tim Klunder
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen recalled driving to the east side of the state in the fall of 2001 to meet with a candidate who was being considered for the job of Zeeland city manager.
Joined by then-Councilwoman Nancy Curnick and their husbands, Gruppen met with Tim Klunder, who at the time was city manager of the riverfront community of Algonac, about 50 miles northeast of Detroit.
Klunder greeted his visitors, and took them on a tour of the fire station, which was connected to City Hall — much to the thrill of Gruppen’s husband, Bill, who was the city’s longtime fire chief.
A native of Byron Center, Klunder answered questions about his interest in the Zeeland position as well as about his background.
“We needed someone who knew the job, who had done the job before, who loved family, who loved the culture in this area, who loved the Christian aspect of our area, who could work with people,” Gruppen said.
In November of that year, Gruppen and her council colleagues offered the manager’s job to Klunder, who at 32 was the youngest of the three finalists who interviewed for the position. In January 2002, Klunder became the third city manager in Zeeland’s history.
“He was, honestly, and I will never step back from that (view), the most perfect pick we could have made … Never once have any of us in the city looked back on that hire,” said Gruppen, who is the lone councilmember remaining from the group that hired Klunder.
Klunder, in turn, thanked Gruppen for her support.
“You believed in me. Gosh. You continually believed in me, from Day One right through to the end,” he said.
On July 8, hundreds of wellwishers — city employees, business leaders, political figures and everyday residents — poured through the Colonial Clock Building for a reception honoring Klunder for his nearly 25 years of service to the city.
The reception took place as Klunder continues to fight a lengthy battle with cancer. The City Council on July 6 granted the city manager a medical leave of absence.
With his wife, Kim, at his side, Klunder exchanged handshakes, hugs and conversations with visitors, who all came to show gratitude for his efforts to make Zeeland a better place to live, work and play. Gruppen praised the city manager for his approachability.
“Everyone felt comfortable with Tim. Everyone knew, whatever your problem was, whatever your need was, you could bring it to Tim, and it’d be taken care of,” she said.
Jennifer Owens, the outgoing president of the Lakeshore Advantage economic development organization, shared a story from her first efforts to contact Klunder when she began her job 12 years ago.
“I called Tim to set up an introductory meeting, and (the call) went to voicemail,” Owens said. “He got back to me within a few hours, and he apologized for not getting back to me sooner. He said he had been standing in a resident’s basement, looking at water damage with them and seeing what the city manager might do to help.”
“That phone call told me everything about Tim. This is a man who shows up, not just for the ribbon cuttings and the easy wins … but for the (flooded) basements, for the hard, unglamorous human moments where a community needs its leader,” she added.
Among the many projects that have occurred during Klunder’s leadership include implementation of a downtown revitalization plan, improvements to local parks, numerous business expansions, construction of the roundabout at the western city limits, installation of the snowmelt system downtown and upgrades to the city’s Clean Water Plant.
Mayor Rick Van Dorp presented a tree that will be planted in Klunder’s honor near City Hall.
“So much of what you’ve done over the past 25 years has happened behind the scenes, often without recognition. But it has provided a steady foundation that has allowed Zeeland to grow and thrive,” Van Dorp said. “Through your steady presence, thoughtful guidance and genuine care for this community, you’ve made a difference that has been seen throughout our city.”
Former Mayor Kevin Klynstra tapped into Klunder’s love for the game of golf during his remarks. Klynstra presented Klunder with a green sport jacket – similar to that awarded to the champion of each year’s Masters tournament – emblazoned with the city’s “Feel the Zeel” logo.
“Tim has shown the kind of leadership every golfer hopes for and in a playing partner – calm under pressure, thoughtful with every shot, and always focused on the next hole instead of the last bad one … You’ve helped keep our city on the fairway, navigated more than your share of hazards and left the course in better shape than you found it,” Klynstra said.
Klunder thanked everyone in attendance, saying he felt “overwhelmed” by the words and gestures of appreciation. He thanked the City Council as well as city employees for their support.
“You let our administration do the job, and we greatly appreciated that. You asked the appropriate questions, but again, you trusted us, and that’s huge in local government,” he said of the council’s support.
Klunder also thanked his family for the sacrifices they made to enable him to do his job.
In closing, Klunder encouraged city leaders to continue to build on their success.
“This city is special. Please don’t change its form,” he said. “That doesn’t mean don’t change. I think we’ve made a lot of nice changes over the years. I’m proud of them … I hope you all are as well. Just keep those roots that we built in this community.”
Zeeland Record
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen recalled driving to the east side of the state in the fall of 2001 to meet with a candidate who was being considered for the job of Zeeland city manager.
Joined by then-Councilwoman Nancy Curnick and their husbands, Gruppen met with Tim Klunder, who at the time was city manager of the riverfront community of Algonac, about 50 miles northeast of Detroit.
Klunder greeted his visitors, and took them on a tour of the fire station, which was connected to City Hall — much to the thrill of Gruppen’s husband, Bill, who was the city’s longtime fire chief.
A native of Byron Center, Klunder answered questions about his interest in the Zeeland position as well as about his background.
“We needed someone who knew the job, who had done the job before, who loved family, who loved the culture in this area, who loved the Christian aspect of our area, who could work with people,” Gruppen said.
In November of that year, Gruppen and her council colleagues offered the manager’s job to Klunder, who at 32 was the youngest of the three finalists who interviewed for the position. In January 2002, Klunder became the third city manager in Zeeland’s history.
“He was, honestly, and I will never step back from that (view), the most perfect pick we could have made … Never once have any of us in the city looked back on that hire,” said Gruppen, who is the lone councilmember remaining from the group that hired Klunder.
Klunder, in turn, thanked Gruppen for her support.
“You believed in me. Gosh. You continually believed in me, from Day One right through to the end,” he said.
On July 8, hundreds of wellwishers — city employees, business leaders, political figures and everyday residents — poured through the Colonial Clock Building for a reception honoring Klunder for his nearly 25 years of service to the city.
The reception took place as Klunder continues to fight a lengthy battle with cancer. The City Council on July 6 granted the city manager a medical leave of absence.
With his wife, Kim, at his side, Klunder exchanged handshakes, hugs and conversations with visitors, who all came to show gratitude for his efforts to make Zeeland a better place to live, work and play. Gruppen praised the city manager for his approachability.
“Everyone felt comfortable with Tim. Everyone knew, whatever your problem was, whatever your need was, you could bring it to Tim, and it’d be taken care of,” she said.
Jennifer Owens, the outgoing president of the Lakeshore Advantage economic development organization, shared a story from her first efforts to contact Klunder when she began her job 12 years ago.
“I called Tim to set up an introductory meeting, and (the call) went to voicemail,” Owens said. “He got back to me within a few hours, and he apologized for not getting back to me sooner. He said he had been standing in a resident’s basement, looking at water damage with them and seeing what the city manager might do to help.”
“That phone call told me everything about Tim. This is a man who shows up, not just for the ribbon cuttings and the easy wins … but for the (flooded) basements, for the hard, unglamorous human moments where a community needs its leader,” she added.
Among the many projects that have occurred during Klunder’s leadership include implementation of a downtown revitalization plan, improvements to local parks, numerous business expansions, construction of the roundabout at the western city limits, installation of the snowmelt system downtown and upgrades to the city’s Clean Water Plant.
Mayor Rick Van Dorp presented a tree that will be planted in Klunder’s honor near City Hall.
“So much of what you’ve done over the past 25 years has happened behind the scenes, often without recognition. But it has provided a steady foundation that has allowed Zeeland to grow and thrive,” Van Dorp said. “Through your steady presence, thoughtful guidance and genuine care for this community, you’ve made a difference that has been seen throughout our city.”
Former Mayor Kevin Klynstra tapped into Klunder’s love for the game of golf during his remarks. Klynstra presented Klunder with a green sport jacket – similar to that awarded to the champion of each year’s Masters tournament – emblazoned with the city’s “Feel the Zeel” logo.
“Tim has shown the kind of leadership every golfer hopes for and in a playing partner – calm under pressure, thoughtful with every shot, and always focused on the next hole instead of the last bad one … You’ve helped keep our city on the fairway, navigated more than your share of hazards and left the course in better shape than you found it,” Klynstra said.
Klunder thanked everyone in attendance, saying he felt “overwhelmed” by the words and gestures of appreciation. He thanked the City Council as well as city employees for their support.
“You let our administration do the job, and we greatly appreciated that. You asked the appropriate questions, but again, you trusted us, and that’s huge in local government,” he said of the council’s support.
Klunder also thanked his family for the sacrifices they made to enable him to do his job.
In closing, Klunder encouraged city leaders to continue to build on their success.
“This city is special. Please don’t change its form,” he said. “That doesn’t mean don’t change. I think we’ve made a lot of nice changes over the years. I’m proud of them … I hope you all are as well. Just keep those roots that we built in this community.”
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