Den Hartog, Rev. Donald Wayne 1933-2020

DENHARTOG, DEBOER, BOMGAARS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

The Rev. Donald Den Hartog, age 87, of Orange City, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at his residence.

There will be a private graveside service on Saturday, December 19, 2020, at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. The Rev. Dr. Brian Keepers will officiate. There will be a memorial service to follow at a later date. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Memorials may be directed to the Rev. Donald Den Hartog Scholarship at Northwestern College.

Reflections: My Journey on the path of life

In place of an obituary, I’d rather share the path of God’s faithfulness in my life as shown through Psalm 16:11.

You have made known to me the path of life,
You fill me with joy in your presence,
With eternal pleasures at your right hand.

God made know to me the path of life first with the blessing of being born in a Christian family. My parents were John and Ann(DeBoer) Den Hartog, and I was the tenth child in a family of twelve. The church was the focal point of our lives, and in my early years I learned the most valuable Christian message from a familiar song, Jesus Loves Me, and I have carried it in my heart my entire life.

Not only did Jesus love me, but at age 10 he made clear the path of life he was leading me on, a call into ministry, which I followed nearly 40 years. It began as a simple gesture, a guest minister at church invited us to accept Christ, and it was the first time someone had challenged me to take that call. I knelt by my bed, accept Christ, and immediately felt a call to be a minister, and I never doubted that call. In preparation for that path I attended NW College in Orange City, IA, Hope College, in Holland, MI, and Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI.

God promises to fill us with joy when we walk this path of life with him. As C.S. Lewis reminds us in his book ‘Surprised by Joy,’ ‘joy is a process not simply a one-time event.’ Alvin, Francis, Richard, Angeline, Genevieve, Luella, Alma, Howard, Wilma, John Junior, and Wanda, my 11 siblings, were my first, and lifelong sources of joy for me. My wife, Audrey (Bomgaars) a constant source of joy to me for over 64 years. And the blessing of my children, Brian(Laurie), Mark, and Deborah Frack. Also our grandchildren Eric Den Hartog(Carol), James Frack, and Deanna Frack, one great-grandson, Ezra Den Hartog, and a great step granddaughter, Taylor. My brothers and sisters in Christ, members of the congregations I served also brought joy to my heart. The members of Rockford Reformed, Rockford, MI, StandaIe Reformed, Grand Rapids, MI, Calvary Reformed, Chicago, Il, and Fellowship Reformed, Lombard, IL.

Joy comes in the unexpected. During the time between sophomore and junior year of college, I was asked by the CRC church if I would be willing to teach at their mission school at the Zuni Indian Reservation in New Mexico, due to the unexpected death of their teacher. The relationships I built with the young Zuni boys and girls, learning to share the gospel with them both in school and in their daily lives filled me with joy and confirmed my call to become a pastor. They were tremendous artists, and I still cherish the paintings I have, made by students sharing God’s creation.

Another time of unexpected joy came four decades later in my retirement from the ministry. We moved to Orange City, IA, and became members of Trinity Reformed Church. During an interim of pastors I was asked if I would be willing to be the preacher of the Word for a few Sundays each month. This is what I did for the next year and 6 months. I thank Trinity for this great privilege, it filled my heart with joy.
Out of suffering, comes joy. At the age of 55 years I was diagnosed with an incurable degenerative eye disease called macular degeneration. At the age of 65 I was declared legally blind. With Psalm 46:10 on my heart, my soul sang, “Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side, leave to thy God to order and provide.”

This hymn taught me to “listen” more intently, and “learn” more willingly. In my blindness God did provide in the form of modern technology. I could now listen to my entire Bible on a small digital tape. A whole new world opened up to me. In addition to the Bible, I listened and learned from the tape recordings of Biblical scholars like R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries and Steven Brown of Key Life Ministries. I have truly gained more knowledge in my blindness, and the joy from that is overwhelming.

Living with limited vision for over two decades had its challenges but it did not rob me of joy, because in my blindness “you filled me with joy in your presence” Psalm 16:11

With eternal pleasures at your right hand. Death is the final enemy we all face. But God the Father gave us his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered, died on a cross and rose from the dead. John 3:16 promises “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Preceding me in death were my parents and nine siblings.

Continuing life’s journey here is a brother John Junior and his wife Ann, and sister Wanda and her husband Bill. In my blindness I often meditate on this Bible verse.

No eye has seen no ear has ever heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Cor 2:9

Now I see.

Donald Wayne Den Hartog

A sinner, saved by grace.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.