GRAND RAPIDS – Karen Postema’s sister was hired to coach Forest Hills Northern’s volleyball team when the school opened in 1972.
Her sister, Joan VandenBosch, asked Postema to join her at the matches to keep score. Postema was happy to help.
Fifty years later, Postema continues to have the best seat in the house. When the Huskies hosted Greenville in an OK White Conference match last week, there was Postema keeping score, just like she has been doing for the past five decades.
“I just love sports, I love kids and it keeps me young,” said Postema, 82. “I feel soooo lucky to have a job like this. It is the perfect job for me. I have met so many wonderful kids. I am just so fortunate.”
It all began with volleyball, but that’s hardly the only sport she scores. It’s another busy fall because she operates the scoreboard at home football games, and she works boys soccer games, too. Postema also keeps busy in the winter months, working the scoreboard for boys and girls basketball games. She provides her services in wrestling, and come springtime, it’s on to girls soccer and boys and girls lacrosse. She used to score track meets before it went electronic.
Mention Postema’s name around FHN, and praise is sure to follow. Senior volleyball player Kennedy Louisell called Postema a real sweetheart, while teammate Lauren Hallas said Postema is always there for the Huskies. Athletic director Cory Anderson said Postema is the Huskies’ No. 1 fan, and varsity boys basketball coach Joe Soules added that Postema is a walking history book when it comes to the school’s athletic programs.
“Not only does she work a ton of events, which is huge for the athletic department and our community, but she is the No. 1 Husky fan,” Anderson said. “It’s that connection she builds from running the clock and keeping the book, even at away games. She goes to a ton of away games and supports Forest Hills Northern through and through.
“Forest Hills Northern and our community thank her for her service to our student-athletes and Forest Hills Public Schools. It’s just amazing to work with her.”
Postema’s daughter, Vicki Latham, has been by her mother’s side helping out during the past 38 years, including basketball season when she works the scorebook while her mom operates the scoreboard. Soules has known them both for more than two decades. Soules played four years of basketball for the Huskies, returned to serve as an assistant coach and has been the varsity coach for 12 years.
“It’s all the little things they do,” Soules said. “When you show up to the gym, they have a bag of candy and they always have a smile on their face. They ask how am I doing and how is my family. They do it for everyone they know. Every official who walks up - give them a handshake and they get a piece of candy. They are so much fun to be around and talk to.
“They have notebooks filled with results from every game that they have done. They have the final score and the tally. It is their little keepsake. They write down the score and the results. They are basically a walking history of Northern to a certain degree.”
Postema graduated from Rockford in 1957 and drove school busses for 30 years. That included 25 years at Northview, as well time in Tri-County and Rockford.
While she eventually retired as a bus driver, she said she has no intentions of giving up herFHN job any time soon. She said she will continue to work there as long as they want her.
“It’s been fun,” Postema said. “I have scored at The Palace (of Auburn Hills), Van Andel Arena, the DeltaPlex, Civic Auditorium and the Breslin Center twice.
“I’m just thankful for Forest Hills Northern. Go Huskies.”
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