Louis Van Brenk

1937 - 2016

Louis Van Brenk

Mr. Louis Bryant Van Brenk passed away peacefully with both sons by his side at the VA hospital in Seattle, October 3, 2016 from multiple health issues.

An open, life-celebration will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, October 27, 2016 at 2pm.

He was Born in Tehachapi, CA, June 5, 1937 to Martha and Gerrit Jan Van Brenk, with snake watchdog, Spunky. They moved, briefly, to Hell's Kitchen, NYC where the defiant adolescent, took the wheel on his mother's dare. Returning to CA, Young 'Louie' (among his new black-leather-coat gang, "Live Now-Sweat Later!"), found his love for water on the beaches of Santa Cruz. A concerned friend and early counselor encouraged a troubled teen to change and in June of '56, a rebellious 'Louie' enlisted in the Navy, sailing aboard 'USS Staten Island,' first icebreaker in the Weddell Sea, stationed out of Seattle's Pier 91. One day, 'Van' (a Navy nickname) wandered into a chapel at SPC seeking answers. Alone in the chapel, 'Van' dedicated his life to Christ. Shortly after, a newly converted sailor met a newly hired switchboard operator on their new city streets in Seattle. No numbers exchanged, but a chance meeting several weeks later at a Youth For Christ meeting sealed the deal and in 1958, Mona Hulen married 'Van.' He studied drafting at SPC and NNC and to support the newlyweds, 'Van' was an ice cream plant & Post Office worker, bread truck driver, green chain operator, draftsman and salesman but while at NNC, 'Van' was called to ministry and eventually, with sons, Bryan and Loren, the family moved to CO. where 'Van', graduated from the Nazarene Bible College. He Pastored in Woodland, WA and began the home-mission church, Redmond Church of the Nazarene, "The church that Love Is Building". Pastor 'Van' touched many lives before a life change relocated him to CA for several years. His senior years brought him back to Monroe, WA. He loved stagecoaches, Jelly Bellys, strawberry shakes and all things Country Western. Never a bad word to say of anyone, Grandpa 'Van' will be missed by surviving children Loren, Bryan and Lori and grandchildren Colton, Garrett and Michelle.