Rev. Donald Van Beek

Some men live their whole lives waiting to hear their calling, never finding true happiness or fulfillment. Reverend Don Van Beek certainly wasn’t one of them. Don was a wonderful man, a man devoted to his faith, to his family, and to his community. Don heard his calling loud and clear, a calling that echoes today in the hearts of all who knew him.

Don’s story began on a hot summer day in 1937, in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois. Those were hopeful times in this country, as our nation emerged from the terrible times of the Great Depression. On August 6, 1937, a warm summer Friday in Chicago, Dick and Wilmine (Dykstra) Van Beek celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Donald.

Don was the third of the couple’s four children, joining his brothers Bill and Marv and sister Jean in the family’s home, in the sleepy Chicago suburb of Roseland, Illinois. Don’s dad worked as a bookkeeper, while his mother cared for the family and the home.

The Van Beeks were a devoutly Christian family, as active members of the First Christian Reformed Church of Roseland. Don’s parents believed in a life of “ministry” as well, and often opened their home to missionary families who visited the Chicagoland area.

Don absorbed his family’s faith from an early age, and by the time he reached the second grade at Roseland Christian School, he told his parents he wanted to become a minister one day. Even then, Don heard his calling loud and clear.

Don went on to attend Chicago Christian High School, where he was a very bright, hardworking student. After school, he would race off to one of his many jobs, from working in a bakery, to pouring concrete, delivering his paper route, or working at his uncle’s appliance business. He enjoyed the appliance business the best, where he cleaned the ovens and developed his love for “tinkering” with things.

When he was a senior in high school, Don met a beautiful young woman named Helen Wezeman, who was in his typing class. The sparks flew between them, and they soon became sweethearts. They were both graduating early, and Don was named Valedictorian of his class in January of 1955.

After high school, Don found work with the Illinois Central Railroad as a courier, biding his time before going to college. Later that fall, Don and Helen headed off to Grand Rapids, Michigan to attend Calvin College.

Don worked his way through school as a janitor and cement worker in the summers, while also saving some money to one day start a family. When he graduated in the spring of 1959, Don wasted little time, and married his beloved Helen on August 14, 1959.

The newlyweds were still in college at the time, Helen finishing her degree, and Don entering his first year at Calvin Seminary. The first summer assignment took them to Patterson, New Jersey, where Don served at the Fourth Christian Reformed Church and the Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church. The next summer, the couple traveled to Holland, Minnesota, at the CRC located there.

Don graduated from the Seminary in 1962, and took his first call to Pella, Iowa, to minister at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church. He stayed there until 1966, when Don and Helen moved to Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, to minister Grace Christian Reformed Church. They eventually moved to Muskegon, Michigan to minister Allen Avenue Christian Reformed Church, before Don assumed leadership of his last church in 1983, when he went to the Creston Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.

As Don’s career and congregations grew so, too, did his family. He and Helen were blessed with five wonderful children over the years, Sherry, Doug, Cindy, Dave and Daniel, who made their parents so happy and proud.

The family did much together over the years, with camping often the focal point of their fun. They went camping all across the country in the summertime, first in tents, and then in their popup camper. They enjoyed quiet nights by the fire together, when Don would tell stories around the campfire, whittling all the while (he was always tinkering with something).

Besides Hawaii, they saw every state in the Union over the years, stopping at all the historical landmarks so Don could teach the kids about them. He also taught the kids navigational skills, and how to read the maps. He also kept very detailed records of their journeys, and could tell you what kind of mileage he got between fill-ups!

The family often cottaged at Camp Lake near Grand Rapids, where Don enjoyed taking his little sailboat on the windless lake. It was often a fruitless venture on the lake, but one Don enjoyed all the same.

Don was a wonderful father and husband, and also a wonderful leader and minister. He loved visiting and connecting with his congregations, and was beloved for his integrity, principles and his caring demeanor. Don was born to preach and teach, the calling he heard all of his life.

Don’s faith helped the family overcome tragedy in 1986, when their son Daniel was killed in a motorcycle accident. Don would draw upon his deep faith throughout his lifetime, and in the years to come.

In 1998, he realized he was having health problems, and decided to retire. Not long afterward, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He and Helen had five good years together, traveling to Europe, Nova Scotia, going on an Alaskan cruise, and even went to family reunions in Colorado and the Black Hills of South Dakota, too. They bought a house, and Don enjoyed working in the yard, tinkering as always.

Eventually, Don’s health declined further, and he went to live at the Christian Rest Home, where he received such compassionate and excellent care.

Sadly, Don passed away there on Thursday, February 28, 2008, at the age of 70.

Rev. Van Beek was a wonderful man, who devoted his life to his family, his faith, and his community. Don heard his calling loud and clear, a calling that echoes on today in all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Don was preceded in death by his son Daniel and his grandson, Joel Bos. Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Helen, his children: Sherry and Omar Romero, Doug and Linda Van Beek, Cindy and John Bos, Dave and Sandie Van Beek; his grandchildren: Chris, Nathan, Tyler, Evan and Brianna Romero, Sally and Tim Van Beek, Jennifer, Jillian, Jaycie and Jasmine Bos, Ben and Nick Van Beek; his brothers, sister and sisters-in-law: Bill and Ida Van Beek, Jean Van Beek, Marv and Marlys Van Beek, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ken and Phyllis Wezeman and several nieces and nephews. Rev. Van Beek served the Peoria, IA CRC, Grace CRC of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Allen Ave. CRC of Muskegon, MI, and the Creston CRC of Grand Rapids, MI. Rev. Van Beek reposes at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien – Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E., where relatives and friends may meet his family Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. A private committal service will be held at Fairplains Cemetery Monday A.M. A public memorial service will be held Monday at 2 P.M. at LaGrave Ave. Christian Reformed Church, 107 LaGrave S.E. Grand Rapids, MI. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Christian Rest Home where Rev. Van Beek spent the last year and received much appreciated and tender care. To share a memory or sign the online register book please visit www.lifestorynet.com