Pastor and chaplain Ron De Young spent the formative years of his childhood in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was nurtured in what he referred to as the “Jerusalem” of the Christian Reformed Church. He moved to Wisconsin with his family when he was 13, home to what would become his favorite vacation spot: Door County, a peninsula between Green Bay, Wisc., and Lake Michigan, known for its long shoreline and many parks. Remembered for his sense of humor and a passion for classical music, Ron said Mozart fed his soul. He died Oct. 6 at age 84.
After graduating from Calvin College (now University) and Fuller Theological Seminary, Ron studied another year at Calvin Seminary before being ordained in the CRC in 1971. Subsequently, he served as a missionary in Japan with Christian Reformed World Missions (now part of Resonate Global Mission). Upon his return he did a clinical pastoral education residency at Pine Rest Christian Hospital and then pastored Iowa Falls (Iowa) CRC (1976-1981) and Park Lane CRC in Evergreen Park, Ill.(1981-86). Sensing a call to chaplaincy, Ron completed another two-year CPE residency at Elmhurst (Ill.) Memorial Hospital.
For the next 20 years—becoming board-certified in 1992 with the Association of Professional Chaplains—he served as a chaplain and pastoral counselor in various medical centers and hospices in Chicago, Ill., and surrounding areas.
Ron and his wife, Ruth, moved 10 times during their marriage before settling down in Oak Forest, Ill., in 1993. Ron retired in 2008 after serving as night chaplain at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.
Predeceased in 2020 by Ruth, his wife of 54 years, Ron is survived by three children and two grandchildren.
About the Author
A former nurse and chaplain, Janet Greidanus is a freelance news correspondent and long-time writer of the In Memoriam column for The Banner.