The Stauffer Family

Kurt had attended Grand Valley State University where he met Sandy who claims he was the only person she knew who attended Mass during college. He spent several years in Chicago and Colorado before moving back to Grand Rapids to be near family and to raise their own growing family. In 2007 when the economy tanked and the stable career track job vanished, Kurt turned a hobby of roasting coffee into a full time business.  Rowster Coffee now employs 25 people and has three locations. They have been back to Grand Rapids for about 15 years now and most people are surprised to hear that they moved back to Michigan because they missed the water.

“When you grow up here near the water, and you swim, fish, sail or explore the rivers, lakes and ponds every day you really miss it when you suddenly find yourself in the high desert where trees can’t even live without artificial irrigation.”

Sandy is also a graduate of Grand Valley State University and the Chicago Medical School.  She has been working as a Physician’s Assistant for nearly 25 years and currently works for Metro Health. Sandy grew up in Brighton, MI where her parents still live and are both currently undergoing cancer treatment. Sandy’s mom grew up in Calumet, Michigan and her father attended Michigan Tech where they met and still have a summer home. Summers were spent in “the UP” and she still takes her annual vacation there in the summer.

Sandy loves being a mom and taking care of others. She can often be found at a track meet, hockey or soccer game cheering on one of her 4 children. She has also been a faith formation teacher for the past few years at St. Roberts of Newminster in Ada. Her dream is to one day sail away and do a solo circumnavigation of the globe like her great great great uncle Joshua Slocum.