Dr. Richard J. Venema passed away on November 30, 2015 in Helena. He was born on April 15, 1922 on a farm near Hospers, a small town in Northwest Iowa. In 1945 he married Carrie Van Surksum who preceded him in death in 1994. From 1942 to 1947 he farmed and raised turkeys in
partnership with his father. They then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan for him to enroll in Calvin College to pursue his studies for the Gospel ministry. In 1951 he graduated and went on to obtain his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Calvin Seminary. At a later date he was awarded the Master of Divinity Degree from this same institution. In 1981, while serving as the pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Chino, California he completed his studies to obtain his Doctorate on Ministry Degree from the Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.
His preaching as a Seminarian began in the summer of 1952. The following summer he served in the Bethel Christian Reformed of Sioux Center, Iowa. In 1954 he was called by this congregation and ordained as the pastor of this church. From 1958 to 1963 he served on loan to the Reformed and Reformed Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand. Since then he served as the pastor of churches in Iowa, Michigan and California as well as four years spent in a mission to the American Indians in San Francisco. Officially he retired as the Senior Pastor of the Chino Christian Reformed Church in 1986 but continued to minister assisting Chino’s Pastor until 1989.
Having moved back to Northwest Iowa he served as an Interim Pastor in a number of vacant churches. In 1994, he transferred his ministerial credentials to the Orthodox Presbyterian church. From 1995 until 2009 he served as a Stated Supply in this denomination in Anchorage and Wasilla, Alaska as well as in Helena, Montana.
Mr. Venema is survived by his loving wife, Nijole; his children: Ed De Young, Dr. Gerard A. and Patricia Venema of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dr. Richard C. and Virginia Venema of Evans, Georgia; Dr. Cornelis P Venema of Dyer, Indiana; Peter and Laura Janoschek of Aalen, Germany. In addition he is survived by a number of stepchildren, 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Two wives, Carrie (Van Surksum) and Mary (Ewing), plus a daughter Karen De Young preceded him in death.
A Funeral Service with viewing is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 4th, 2015 at the Emmanuel Chapel, 1000 N. Ewing St., Helena. A reception will follow the service in the social center of the church.
A Funeral Service and burial will be held in Sheldon, Iowa with the Andringa Funeral Home of Sheldon, Iowa later.
Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Dr. Venema.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 4, 2015
Emmanuel Chapel
1000 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the service
Friday December 4, 2015
Emmanuel Chapel
1000 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 4, 2015
Emmanuel Chapel
1000 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the service
Friday December 4, 2015
Emmanuel Chapel
1000 N. Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Fred, Carla, Jonathan and Rachel says
Pastor Venema has gone home to the Lord he served so faithfully. Our family will never forget this humble, gentle, loving man who came alongside us in some of our darkest moments to share God’s comfort with us. He will remain in our memories forever as one of the most godly men we have ever met; a true “pastor” in every sense of the word. He was a wise teacher, a gifted speaker, and a humble servant of the God he loved. We look forward to reuniting with him in heaven someday!
Carol Kanis Posthuma says
Dr. Richard Venema was a faithful minisiter of the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ.
He was full of passion for the truth found in God’s WORD.
I will never forget his forthright and comforting message at the event of my brother Douglas James Kanis’s funeral after a motorcycle accident after Tulip Time at age 16. While on earth,Dr. Venema displayed compassion for the saints, passion for the LORD, and was a blessing to so many of us in our walk to be more like our Master and Savior , Jesus Christ.
Our sympathy to all his family . May you cherish his memory and anticipate reuniting in Heaven with him again, Lord willing.
Duane Vedders says
I’m so thankful for Dr. Venema having encouraged me to join the first class of Mid-America Reformed Seminary. My father loved and respected Dr.Venema and his preaching.
Shari Van Surksum Slater says
I have warm loving memories of Uncle Rich & Aunt Carrie starting in Sioux Center, Holand Michigan, and Sheldon. Our family gatherings were very special which I didn’t realize until I became an adult. I think often of my cousins Karen, Jerry, Rich, Cornel and Laura. My prayers are with you and your families.
Tony Bosch says
I was a member at chino when Rev. Venema was there in the 80s. My family thought a lot of the man. He was a good preacher, good leader, and a good man. He was at all the functions , like being official starter for the cadets pinewood derby. I remember him going down a huge waterslide with young people. Condolences and prayers for the family. He will be missed.
Sally Apokedak says
Pastor Venema used to scare my little children when he get loud in his preaching, but they always ran to him and hugged him after the preaching was over or when he came to our house. They loved him and so did I.
I didn’t keep up with him after we left Alaska, but I did write once to tell him that he saved my life. He was an interim pastor at my church and he could have just been a preacher filing the pulpit. But Richard Venema was a pastor at heart–he wasn’t just pulpit supply. So, though i was one of many people he preached to over the years and not all that important to him, he was one of few in my life and he was very important to me.
When he was the supply for our church, I was struggling in a certain situation and I’ll never forget him standing over me and yelling at me, with his big, booming voice, “You forgive, you forgive, you look at Jesus on that cross and you forgive.” And what could I do but obey? I was so thankful for that man telling me to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, who had endured so much more than the petty little offenses I had endured.
And because Pastor Venema told me it didn’t matter if I was offended; my job was to forgive, he really did improve my life greatly. I could easily have gone a whole different direction if, at that crucial moment, he had not shouted at me to look at Jesus on the cross and forgive.
I was never afraid of his big voice the way my children were. He was a passionate man. But there was never a doubt in my mind that he got loud because he loved us. (And even my children knew he loved them. That’s why they ran to hug him always.) He shouted at me because he loved me and he invested much time and energy into my family. I believe I prayed with him more than I’ve prayed with any other pastor (except for my first pastor who spent much time mentoring me). Pastor Venema was seventy-nine years old by the time I met him, and serving as pulpit supply, but he wasn’t coasting. He was working while it was yet day. I trust he’s hearing a “Well done, good and faithful servant,” right about now.
Karen Booth says
Pastor Venema,
He was an amazing man and we all loved him in Alaska. We enjoyed his love for others and aways was a tremendous blessing. He gave selflessly of himself. We experience his joy and grief with the loss of his 2nd wife and the happiness when he married Nicole. He prayed with us, he supported us, he blessed us, he baptized my children. He touched life after life, Thank you for sharing him with us.
We had similar roots too because my father was a minister in the mid-west on the Winnebago Reservation and he grew up in Orange City, Iowa, so we would exchange stories. I know he will be missed by all.
Karen Booth on behalf of the Booth family
Kathleen Robertson says
My daughter JoAnn & I became members of the OPC Church in Wasilla, AK while Pastor Venema’s was serving our tiny congregation. He baptized my Grandson Gabreal that same day. Other children were also baptized that day and the Holy Water never quite reached Gabreal’s forehead. I thank God for placing Richard in our lives.
Dave and Jill Beezhold says
Dr. Venema will sorely be missed. Such a godly man who preached Christ at all times. I will never forget when he was our interim pastor (Covenant OPC, Orland Park) for a time. He preached on Christmas Day and the title of his sermon was “Wise men still seek Him”. He was such a blessing to our congregation not just as a pastor, but as a brother in Christ. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nijole, his children and all who loved this wonderful man of God.
MikedeBoom says
My condolences to all in the Venema family
A great loss to the church as well as the family. God grant each of you what you require in the days ahead. Be proud of the fact that he was man who took insult and injury refusing to compromise the truth of the gospel