Vern Bultema and David Lohman recently met with an estate planning attorney to prepare their wills and trusts. With no children and without burdening distant family members, they’ve arranged to leave a gift to the Community Foundation for Muskegon County to support public media.
“We’re concerned about the future of public television and public radio,” Vern explained. “So, we decided to direct the earnings from our estate to support those services. Public media plays an important outreach role in the community, but it’s often overlooked.”
Vern and Dave don’t watch much commercial TV or streaming platforms. Instead, they prefer classical music and programs like Masterpiece Theatre. They’re interested in quality programming with cultural value.
They’ve shared a love of travel since 1985, beginning with a Volkswagen camper van, eventually upgrading to a 39-foot Winnebago, and now a 40-foot diesel pusher motorhome.
“It’s like having another home,” Vern said. Their motorhome includes deluxe features like a washer/dryer and a full wall slide-out. “We used to winter in Arizona, New Mexico, and California, but my health declined, so we haven’t traveled in a few years. Still, we’re hoping to take one more big trip.”
Their favorite destination is Tucson. “It’s a good-sized city with a rich cultural life, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. We love the atmosphere there.”
They once owned a 33-foot, all-wood Chris-Craft cabin cruiser and spent many summers living aboard. The boat was moored in Muskegon later in life, but earlier, they kept it in Saugatuck and would cruise the coast, anchoring offshore.
Both avid gardeners, Vern, a retired banker, and Dave, retired from teaching at Montague Public Schools, currently live in Muskegon Township on 10 acres of land with their beloved Persian cat, Habib, who is very much a part of the family.
“We’ve always had cats, starting with a Siamese, then three Himalayans. One of the kittens lived to be over 20 years old. After she passed, we eventually adopted Habib. We chose the name because he’s a Persian, and we wanted something that fit.”
“He’s unlike most cats—he greets guests at the door, follows a strict routine, and even knows when the cheese drawer opens! He travels with us, and honestly, we live by his schedule. He’s incredibly special.”
Together, they also own and manage a historic property in Grand Rapids. The large house has been converted into five studio apartments, one of which is an Airbnb.
In addition to all this, Vern is a lifelong musician. “I was classically trained in piano and served as a church music director, leading choirs and playing the organ. Music remains a huge part of both my life and Dave’s.”