Korhorn, Bud (2023)

Ivan “Bud” Korhorn has been an ardent fan and supporter of Grand Rapids Christian High School since his high school days.  He has also been a respected ambassador for GRCH for 28 years (1990-2018).  His loyal service has been invaluable to the athletic department, coaches, officials, players, and fans.

Bud is a graduate of Baxter Christian School and attended Grand Rapids Christian from 1949-1951. Bud played softball and basketball at Baxter Christian, but he stepped away from athletics after that to help support his family. After high school, Bud participated in men’s recreational basketball leagues for many years.

Community member involvement in athletics is always a great asset, and Bud’s contributions to the GRCH athletic department were invaluable. Bud could always be counted on to ensure that visiting teams and officials had everything they needed to prepare for and participate in contests at GRCH. From start to finish, the athletic and coaching staffs looked to him as a liaison between opposing, as well as home team coaches, teams, and officials, communicating game times and providing needed resources along the way.

Another contribution Bud made to the GRCH athletic community was his work as the football field manager. Anyone involved with a football program knows that preparing the fields for games is an arduous task with the wear and tear the fields and facilities take week after week, especially in the days of natural grass turf. Bud supervised the work crews for the games, went about his routine of ensuring the opponents and officials had what they needed, and took care to check that all work was completed at the end of each evening’s competitions. Bud’s commitment to the football teams went so far as to upset the neighbors one Saturday morning when he had to repaint the lines at 4:00 am for a big rivalry game that afternoon, turning on the stadium lights at that time. Needless to say, once they understood the circumstances, they were a bit more understanding.

Bud’s impact on local and state athletics goes well beyond GRCH. In 1968, Bud assisted the Athletic Director at Covenant Christian High School in starting a basketball program for boys and girls. He was hired as its first boys basketball coach and served in that capacity for three years. Bud also worked as a MHSAA official in football and boys and girls basketball. He officiated in track and field, working the discus and shot put events for the City League, as well as in the district, regional, and state finals. Bud was always highly respected as an official and enjoyed working with the athletes in his events.

Bud's favorite memories of GRCH athletics include watching his grandson play on the 2012 State Championship football team, and watching the state tournament basketball games played by several Eagle teams. He has appreciated making lifelong relationships with athletes, coaches, and officials.

Bud has enjoyed golf for many years, as well as camping and traveling with family. Bud and his wife Carole “Faye”, who passed away in 2017, were married for 61 years. They had five children: Dean (Mary) Korhorn, Heidi VanBaren (husband Gerald, deceased in 2023), Stephen (Sandra) Korhorn, Roderick Korhorn (deceased in 1989, wife Karen), Barry Korhorn, and ten grandchildren.  

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9