Kool, Clarence Orville (Rev. Dr.) 1927-2016

KOOL, BORN, GORTMAKER, KOENS, WOODWORD

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2016 at 10:01:55

Cornelius Orville was born on June 30, 1927, on a farm north of Newkirk, Iowa, the only child of John and Anna Marie (Born) Kool. When he was a preschooler, the family moved to a farm south of Orange City. He completed elementary school at the Sunnyside Country School, where he was deeply influenced in the Christian faith by his teacher, Edna (Vander Schaaf) Boersma. In 1944, he graduated from the Orange City High School, where he received much encouragement from Coach Frederick Cooper.

Following high school, Orville enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and received the wings designating him as a candidate for pilot training. His dream was to become a fighter pilot. However, World War II ended ten days before he was inducted. As a private citizen, he then soloed in an Aeronca Champion airplane.

The assurance of personal salvation became a reality to Orville after hearing the preaching of his father-in-law to be, The Rev. Dr. J. H. Woodward, who was the founding pastor of what is now the Dover Avenue Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Orange City. This led to his enrollment in the St. Paul Bible Institute (now Crown College, Minnesota), where he became the editor of the Shield yearbook.

On June 12, 1950, he married Joyce Ann Woodward at the Alton Reformed Church. She was a loving, faithful wife and partner in ministry for over sixty years. They had a beautiful marriage filled with Christian joy.

Following graduation from the Northwestern Junior College in Orange City in 1951, the Kools moved to Le Mars, Iowa, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Westmar College in 1953. In 1956, the Bachelor of Divinity degree was awarded by the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, where he was president of his graduating class. While in Chicago, he served as student pastor for the East Hazel Crest Community Church. In 1974, he earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Additional studies took him to the graduate school of the Wheaton, Illinois, College.

Other churches served by the Kools were the First Baptist Church, of Bloomington, Illinois, as assistant pastor to the Rev. Rudolph Loidolt; the Marion Avenue Baptist Church, of Aurora, Illinois; the Crawford Avenue Baptist Church, of Skokie, Illinois; the First Baptist Church, of St. Charles, Illinois; the First Baptist Church, of Bethalto, Illinois; the Temple Baptist Church, of Sioux City, Iowa (now the Southern Hills Baptist Church); and the College Avenue Baptist Church, of Normal, Illinois.

In 1992, the Kools retired to Orange City, where he first served the Dover Avenue Alliance Church as the Associate Pastor for Community Outreach. In 1995, the Southern Hills Baptist Church called them to plant a Southern Baptist Church in Sioux County, which is the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Orange City. During retirement, he also served the Alton

Reformed Church as visitation pastor and the First Presbyterian Church of Paullina, Iowa, as an interim pastor. He also provided pulpit supply for many area churches. In 1997, he authored Christian Baptism, which has had three printings. In the year 2000, he was recognized as the Outstanding Pastor of the Year by the Baptist Convention of Iowa.

Throughout life, his wife was a steadfast and prayerful supporter of her husband. Someone once remarked, “When you get Kool for your pastor, you get two for the price of one.” Joyce passed away on November 1, 2010, in Orange City.

On November 17, 2012, he married Marlys Ruth (Gortmaker) Koens in Rochester, Minnesota, where they made their home. Both shared a deep love for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In their four short years together, they laughed, cried, traveled, prayed, and served God and one another as faithful companions. Orville also served as Visitation Pastor at the Bethel Baptist Church of Rochester for a brief time. Marlys was both a very caring and devoted Christian woman and a wonderful companion to Orville.

Grateful for having shared his life include his wife, Marlys; four children and their spouses, Keith and Margo Kool, of Gardiner, Maine; Kendra and Philip Gruszka, of Wexford, Pennsylvania; Kurt and Vicky Kool, of Bailey, Colorado; and Karla and Stuart Dekkenga, of Le Mars, Iowa; three step-children, Kerry Koens, of Maple Grove, Minnesota; Kari Koens, of Stewartville, Minnesota; and Kendall and Andi Koens, of Rochester, Minnesota; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Melanie and Victor Carreras, of Sterling, Virginia; Brent Gruszka and Jeremy Gruszka, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Jon and Kadie Kool, of Shawnee, Colorado; Kristin and Casey Wright, of Bailey, Colorado; Ashley Kool, of Lakewood, Colorado; Katie and Tim Berry, of Frederick, Colorado; Kinzie and Wes Darby, of Denver, Colorado; and Kolby and Meghan Dekkenga, of Lakewood, Colorado; three-step-grandchildren, Tyler, Trenton, and Taylor Koens, all of Apple Valley, Minnesota; and six great-grandchildren, Asa and Isaac Berry, Bryce and Weston Kool, and Sydney and Audrey Wright, all of Colorado.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and infant step-granddaughter, Bailey Koens.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, December 10, at 2:00pm, at the Alton, Iowa, Reformed Church. Interment will be prior to the service at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton. There will be a family prayer service on Saturday, at 1:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Friday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the funeral home.

A time of remembrance for the Rev. Dr. Kool will be held on December 17, at 10:30am at the Timothy Chapel of the Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester.

Memorials may be directed to the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Orange City.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.