Docter, Rev. Garret, 1906-2000

DOCTER, SCHOENVELD, GROEN

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/23/2014 at 16:13:44

Born: October 27, 1906 Firth, Nebraska
Died: July 17, 2000 Orange City, Iowa

The Rev. Garret Docter, 93 of Orange City, died Monday, July 17, 2000 at the Heritage Nursing Home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City with the Rev. Jonathan Opgenorth officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Lennox, S.D. Cemetery. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Docter was born October 27, 1906, at Firth, NE. the son of Henry and Maggie (Schoenveld) Docter. He was raised in Firth, where he attended country school and graduated from high school in 1925. In 1929 he received a B.A. degree from Central College in Pella, IA and he earned a Dr. of Divinity degree in May of 1932 from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI., after which he was ordained in the Reformed Church in America. He married Abby Groen on Jan. 2, 1932, in Lennox. She died Oct. 1 1995 in Orange City.

They served the Harrison, S.D. Reformed Church from 1932 to 1937, the Hospers Reformed Church from 1937 to 1951, and the First Reformed Church in Sibley from 1951-1958. In 1958 he became field secretary for the Synod of Iowa, helping organize new churches. From 1973-1977 they served the Melvin Reformed Church. In semiretirement, he provided pulpit supply and related ministries to many churches in MN., IA,, S.D., and NE. He was calling pastor at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City for two years and at Trinity Reformed Church for four years. He completely retired in 1993.

He had served on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern College in Orange City for 35 years, including 12 years as President and 5 years as vice-president. in 1943 he was President of the Particular Synod of the West.

In Jan. of 1999, he became a resident of the Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community in Orange City, On June 19, 2000 he transferred to the Heritage House.

He was a member of Trinity Reformed Church. He enjoyed fishing and gardening.

Survivors include a son, Harold and his wife, Lynne of Williamsburg; a daughter and her husband, Marilyn and David Van Engelenhoven of Orange City; five grandchildren,Greg Docter, Steve Docter,Paul Van Engelenhoven, Juliana Else, and Benjamin Van Engelenhoven; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Henry of Lincoln NE. and Bob and his wife Ruth of Firth; a sister, Jennie Essink of Holland, NE. and a sister-in-law Everdene Docter of Sheldon, IA.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Lievert, Martin and Thomas, and two sisters, Martha Wiekamp and Mary Ten Hulzen.

Source: Local Paper after 7/17/2000