Rev. Thomas L. HOOGENDOORN

HOOGENDOORN, NEELES, EGBERTS, VANDERWEELE, KUITERT, LARSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2007 at 09:41:15

Willmar, MN - Rev. Thomas L. Hoogendoorn, 59, of Willmar, died, Saturday, September 2, 2006 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 7, 2006 at First Reformed Church in Willmar. Burial will be at Friday, September 8, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Thomas was born on March 6, 1947, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Cornelius and Wilhelmina (VanderWeele) Hoogendoorn. He was raised in Kalamazoo and graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School in 1965. He continued his education at Western Michigan University and graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1975. He was united in marriage to Janice Kuitert on March 31, 1967 in Kalamazoo, MI. He pastored the following churches: Pembroke Reformed Church, Pembroke, IL; Alto Reformed Church, Alto WI; Immanuel Reformed Church in Belmond, IA; Grace Reformed Church, Corsica, SD; Mt View Reformed Church, Denver, CO; The Reformed Church, Dell Rapids, SD; First Reformed Church, Sanborn, IA and First Reformed Church, Willmar, MN. As he Pastored the churches he was involved in many positions with the Classis', Denver Southwest Ministries, food pantry and housing, prison ministries, Optimist Club and Ministerial Associations. He served on a school board, was active with Southern Gospel Music and was a director and board member of Inspiration Hills Reformed Church Camp in South Dakota. Thomas truly enjoyed his preaching, teaching and singing. He also played Santa Claus in several places through the years. Participating and watching all sports, especially softball, golfing and stock car racing. Thomas cherished the time he could spend with friends sharing laughter, food and playing cards. But his best memories and times were spent with his children and grandchildren and their activities. He loved to live his life by God's grace and love.

Surviving are his wife, Jan of Willmar; his mother, Wilhelmina of Kalamazoo, MI; daughters, Rebecca (and Brian) Needles of Milaca, MN; Rachel (and Spencer) Larsen of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Randy (and Jenny) Hoogendoorn of Belton, MO; six grandchildren, Derek, Payton and Mika Hoogendoorn and Lily, Sophia and Sage Larsen. Also surviving is his sister, Donna (and Larry) Egberts of Westminster, CA and brother-in-law, David (and Berta) Kuitert of Plainwell, MI. He was preceded in death by his father.

Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD)
September 7, 2006