Building Legacies
Grace Olsen Kistler House
Curving in an "S" shape along the winding rim of a wooded ravine are three traditional living centers named after founding members of the University's governing body: James M. Copeland House, Kenneth W. Robinson House, and Grace Olsen Kistler House. The traditional living centers are coeducational units with separate floors for male and female students connected to central lounges.
Grace Olsen Kistler was born in February 1899. The namesake for Kistler Living Center was a gracious woman leader. Grace Olsen graduated from the University of Kansas and earned a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. She married John J. Kistler in 1963 and moved to Grand Haven, Michigan in 1940. They had three children - Joan, John J. II, and James. "Grace" as she was known to all who served with her, was a devoted volunteer. She served as secretary of the North Ottawa Community Hospital Authority, was president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs in Michigan, served on the board of the Ottawa County Red Cross and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church's Womens Association in Grand Haven. Governor G. Mennen Williams appointed her one of the first members of the board of control for Grand Valley State Colleges. She served from 1960 until her death in 1967 at the age of 68.
The Kistler children established the Grace Olsen Kistler Memorial Scholarship Fund at Grand Valley State University. President James Zumberge (President 1962-1968) stated, "She was the spark that fired the community to its high level of support of Grand Valley State College and has been a loyal and stimulating leader of the college board of control since its beginning." Kistler Living Center was named in her honor. It was completed in 1971 and has since been renovated (2001).
For more information regarding housing on campus, click here.
Page last modified January 10, 2013
