In Memoriam

A pastor and servant-leader, Fred VanderBerg was kind, thoughtful and gentle with a unique sense of humor. He died May 3, at age 69.

Compassionate and caring, with an insatiable love for learning, pastor and chaplain Jim Molenbeek died April 20. He was 73.

A pastor and chaplain compelled by Christ’s call to reach out to “the least of these,” John de Vries died April 11, age 77.

A faithful man of God, David Zylstra pastored for 43 years in five Christian Reformed congregations. He died March 24, aged 73.

A beloved professor of religion and theology who used his actions to speak louder than his words, Dave Holwerda died March 10, aged 89.

‘Faithful to God and to his calling,’ Joseph Brinks, a pastor who loved to teach and preach, died March 8.

A pastor and missionary with a deep and abiding love for the Lord, Bernie Dokter died Feb. 17.

A pastor, chaplain, and teacher recognized for his extraordinary energy, Donald Wisse died Feb. 27. He was 91.

A passionate preacher devoted to the Lord, John Hofman Jr. died March 1, just a few weeks before his 93rd birthday.

Stan Bultman, a patient and kind pastor and chaplain, died Jan. 8.

Clarence Van Essen had an obvious love for the Lord and for Christ’s church. He died Feb. 4.

A gentle and humble man of grace and integrity, John VanRegenmorter truly lived his life for the Lord, walking the talk every day.

Bill Huyser faithfully served in the ministry of the Christian Reformed Church for almost 70 years. He died Jan. 4 at age 97.

A farmer and a pastor whose preaching ‘enriched the soil of the church,’ Arlan Koppendrayer was in active ministry until a devastating stroke in December. He died Dec. 24.

Xay Xue Yang,  founding pastor of the Hmong Christian Reformed Church in Sheboygan, Wisc., died Dec. 15, 2021.

After a full life of ministry and a richly productive season of retirement, Lammert Slofstra, 97, died Dec. 31, 2021.

Pastor and chaplain, George Van Arragon was a man who made people feel welcomed, accepted, and encouraged. He died Dec. 27.

Scholar, missionary, translator, and one who testified to the good news of God’s grace throughout his 90 years, Gene Rubingh died Dec. 20, 2021.

A man of prayer and an inspiration to many, Harvey Ouwinga welcomed each day as a gift and tried to reflect God’s love in every moment. He died Oct. 13.

A missionary and pastor, Bob Ruis was a Christ-focused and mission-focused man with a gift for languages. He died Sept. 30.

A man of deep faith, intensity, and passion, Martin Geleynse dedicated his life to testifying to the love and faithfulness of God. He died Oct. 1 in Clinton, Ont.

A teacher, preacher, and loyal friend, David Doyle died Sept. 5.

John Aupperlee, pastor and chaplain, was most shaped by his identity as a child of God. He died Aug. 31.