Eugene Vander Well Obituary

Name: Visitation for Eugene Vander Well
Start: 2014-07-11T14:30:00.000Z
End: 2014-07-11T16:00:00.000Z
Location: First Reformed Church of Holland

Eugene Vander Well entered a fuller life with God on July 8, 2014. Gene was born on February 14, 1929, in Rock Valley, Iowa, the only child of Steve and Effie Vander Well. He was baptized, raised and professed his faith in Jesus Christ at the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley. He graduated from Rock Valley High School, Central College in Pella, Iowa, and Western Theological Seminary in Holland. He married Joyce Brunsting in 1951. They had three children, Leah, Lynn and Stephen. In 1953, Gene was ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church in America. He served congregations in New Baltimore, New York; Astoria, New York; Riverdale, Illinois; and Lynnwood, Washington. In 1983, Gene and Joyce went to Taiwan to serve the Taipei International Church and work with Overseas Radio and Television, a Christian mass media organization. Later, they served the Yokohama Union Church in Yokohama, Japan. They retired in 1994 to their home in Bothell, Washington, later moving to Holland, and eventually settling in Freedom Village. Joyce died in 2008. Two years later, Gene married Lenora Ridder, also a resident of Freedom Village.

Gene is survived by his wife, Lenora; his children, Leah Vander Well and Steve Scott of Brier, Washington, Lynn and Keith Mullins of Kent, Washington, and Stephen and Sophie Mathonnet-Vander Well of Pella, Iowa; along with grandchildren, Matthew and Wendi Mullins of Honolulu, Hawaii, Marshall and Jennifer Mullins of Kent, Washington, Emma and Micah Kraayenbrink of Dubuque, Iowa, and Chloe Mathonnet-VanderWell and Gywn Howard of Seattle, Washington.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 11, at 12 noon at First Reformed Church of Holland, with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. In place of flowers, gifts may be given to Reformed Church CARE Network (formerly Reformed Church World Service), Grand Rapids.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Holland Sentinel on Jul. 9, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Vander Well

3 Entries

July 12, 2014

We extend our Sincere Condolences to Pastor Gene's Wife, Lenora, Children, Leah, Lynn and Steve and Family's. We moved to Lynnwood, Wa in 1969. Church of the Good Shepherd became our Church Home for nearly 20 years. This is where we met Pastor Gene and Joyce. We experienced many years of growth with Pastor Gene and Joyce We enjoyed many breakfasts after Church with them at the Pancake Haus in Edmonds, WA. We kept in contact with them after they moved to Holland, MI. About 4 years ago, when Gene came for a visit, we gathered as many former Church of The Good Shepherd folks as we could locate. Gene really enjoyed seeing so many of his Congregation, and learning how each was doing. He and Joyce always took a sincere interest in each Family. Thank You for your Guidance Pastor Gene. Happy that your earthly struggles are over, and commend you on a life well lived.....Wendell and Cheryl Ihmels

Doyle & Eileen Norris

July 10, 2014

Pastor Gene was our pastor and friend, and most of all, the most loving of people we have known. He embodied I Corinthians 13, the great love chapter of scripture. Gene is fondly remembered as an "encourager." When RCA commissioned him to begin a new church in Lynnwood, WA, he met Doyle and the two formed a close bond. Later, he performed the marriage ceremony when Doyle married Eileen. Still later he baptized our daughter whom we had adopted as an infant.
During the 1970's when the Church Awakening brought Revival to the Pacific Northwest, Pastor Gene encouraged those who had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit to pursue a closer relationship with Jesus.
God Bless You, his family.

July 9, 2014

With sadness I received the call Gene had passed away - my heart is
filled with joy his terrible suffering is now over.
My late husband, our 2 daughters and I met Gene and Joyce in 1969
when he started up the Church of the Good Shepherd in Alderwood Manor, Washington (now Lynnwood, Wa). My husband was an elder
for several years, the daughters were baptized in the Church.
As life rolled on, we lost contact at times, but it always was restored.
Whenever Gene visited the state of Washington we could always count
on a call or visit. We never had the pleasure of meeting Lenora. but
feel confident this will happen at some time in the future. My husband passed away in 2010 - I am now 84 and have likely not too
long to spend on this earth. Whatever time it will be: I will always
very fondly remember Eugene van der Well, the comfortable conversations we had and the good times we spent together.
Rest in peace, dear Gene. My thoughts of sympathy go out to
Lenora and I wish her and your children and their families strength to deal with this enormous loss. Mia Naert nee Varenhorst.

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