On Sunday November 18, 2007 Peter Bosscher, a member of the InterVarsity faculty chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, died of cancer. The InterVarsity faculty community, the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University, and many others around the world remember Peter as a thoughtful, caring, energetic person whose commitment to Christ was evident.
Terry Morrison, the staff member for the faculty ministry at UW–Madison, said that Peter was often lifted up as an example of how one could be an authentic Christian in academia. As a teacher, he offered his students his time outside the class room, encouraging them in their studies and their life decisions. He was well respected by his colleagues, receiving several university awards for teaching and service.
Terry also appreciated Peter’s encouragement for the InterVarsity faculty chapter on campus. He joined in the fellowship, prayed regularly for the ministry, and occasionally shared his insights into living his Christian faith as a professor at gatherings of the InterVarsity faculty.
At one speaking engagement for the UW–Madison InterVarsity faculty chapter meeting, Peter challenged his colleagues to offer their students an education that develops them morally as well as intellectually. He explained one way that he did that with his students was through Engineers Without Borders, an organization that he helped establish on campus. He told of taking students to Rwanda in 2005 to help engineer a gravity-fed system to supply water for Muramba, a community of about 9,000 villagers and 3,000 schoolchildren.
During their time in Africa, his students learned to see an engineering project through to completion, make do with material at hand, and use their education to help others. When questioned, Peter conceded that the constraints of teaching at a state-financed institution applied during the trip to Rwanda, so he was not free to give a large group presentation of the gospel. But he did offer individuals insights into the ways Christ does answer some of the questions that arise during cross cultural experiences.
Peter will be missed by his colleagues and students at the university. In an article in the i>Wisconsin State Journal, Jeff Russell, chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, commented that Peter was the conscience of the Department. “When there would be a principle at stake, when Peter spoke, people would listen. I’m not saying that they would always agree, but people respected Peter’s intelligence and integrity,” Dr. Russell said. One way Peter influenced his Department was to help mold the curriculum to include material on ethics.
In addition to his wife and children, including several foster children, the members of Geneva Chapel, his local church, will miss Peter’s leadership and strong support of God’s work in their lives. Peter was such a presence that even people who met him briefly became aware of his quiet, calm strength.
