In Memoriam

With 76 years of active and retired ministry, Jim Van Weelden loved “to tell the story” of salvation in Jesus Christ. He died April 18.

‘Straight shooter’ with a ‘warm heart,’ Dirk Velthuizen died April 14.

A big man with a powerful voice, Henry Katerberg was also gentle, honest, and sociable. He died April 4 at age 84.

A pastor and missionary who wanted to be known for being a child of God, Merle Den Bleyker died March 23.

Ralph Bruxvoort, who preached, taught, and lived out a theology centered on God's unconditional love and grace, died March 23.

Peter Boodt lived to preach and bring the Word of the Lord to any and all. He died Feb. 14.

Peter Kang’s life as a longtime minister and missionary was marked by a passionate dedication to Jesus Christ. He died Feb. 11.

Wayne Leys, who ministered in the Christian Reformed Church for 40 years, made discipleship a priority. He died Jan. 30.

A faithful servant of God with a pastor's heart and a gift for public prayer, Phil Kok died Jan. 23.

Ordained in 1958 and preaching throughout retirement, Garry Stoutmeyer lived his passion of preaching, teaching, and counseling. He died Jan. 5.

Leverne Tanis had a lifelong devotion to serving God and others. He died Jan. 10 at Bethany Home in Ripon, Calif.

Rev. Bobby Boyd, known for his compassionate pastoral care and his passion for evangelism, died Dec. 19, 2020.

A man of perseverance and empathy who pastored several Christian Reformed congregations in Canada, Henry Jonker died Dec. 9.

Approachable and kind, Kiwoong Kim pastored in Korean and Korean American churches for almost three decades. He died Nov. 24 after a sudden illness with COVID-19.

Earl Marlink, pastor and interim ministry specialist, lived a life embodying 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Marlink died Nov. 19.

Ken Slager, a man of integrity who loved the Lord and the Christian Reformed Church, died Nov. 18 at the age of 95.

Pastor, writer, and founder of Mission India, John De Vries died Oct. 25.

Harvey Stob, a missionary to Argentina and pastor to three U.S. Christian Reformed Churches, died Sept. 25.

A pastor and professor committed to a Kingdom-focused world-and-life view that proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every sphere of life, John Vander Stelt died Sept. 19.

John Tong co-founded the Chinese Christian Reformed Church in Monterey Park, Calif., and served there for 25 years. Known for his love and care for the lonely, forsaken, and outcast, Tong died June 20.

A Christian Reformed pastor for 36 years, Henry Dykema, known as a good storyteller, died July 12.

Neal Rylaarsdam, an approachable pastor who loved blessing others, died June 4.

Berny Niemeyer, a church planter and pastor who lived for more than a decade with Alzheimer’s Disease, died May 20.