James CHRISTIANS

CHRISTIANS, HANSEL, RUTER, RIETEMA, VERBRUGGE, ASSINK, HENSEL, BENINGA, HINDERS, MARCUSSE, MILSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/15/2008 at 10:12:11

July 27, 2006
Kanawha Reporter, Kanawha, IA

Funeral services for James Christians, 73, were held at the Wright Christian Reformed Church on Sat., July 22, with Pastor Steve Schulz officiating. Special music was provided by Virginia Christians, organist. Dennis Terhark, soloist, sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”. Also, a duet was sung by Dennis and Marilyn Terhark. They sang “In the Garden”. The congregational hymns were “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” and “When Peace like a River”. The casket bearers were Don Verbrugge, Dennis Terhark, Nicholas James Christians, Wayne Rietema, Nick Verbrugge and Robert Ruter. The ushers were Paul Eekhoff and Byron Ruter.

James Christians, 73, of Kanawha, passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at the Wright Medical Center in Clarion. James, the son of Nick and Nellie Beninga Christians, was born January 16, 1933 in rural Kanawha. He attended country schools near his home and then Kanawha High School. Jim entered the United States Army right after the Korean Conflict and was later honorably discharged. On November 25, 1955 James married Mavis Hinders at the Woden Christian Reformed Church. The couple lived in Kanawha for a short time and then moved to Woden where they farmed for a number of years. They then lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a short time and later retired to Kanawha. James and Mavis were members of the Woden Christian Reformed Church for several years and recent members of the Wright Christian Reformed Church. James was very active in the Woden Christian Reformed Church, serving as elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher and member of the Men’s Society. He also served on various committees within the church and was a member of the Kanawha Christian School Board for several years.

James is survived by his wife Mavis; daughter Janet Marcusse and Christopher Milson; son Daniel and his wife, Sue; three grandchildren: Nicolas James, Amanda Jean, and Sara Jo; four sisters: Tillie Verbrugge, Henrietta Rietema and her husband Art, Nettie Assink, and Marguerite Hansel; two sisters-in-law: Oralene Christians and Marjorie Christians and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; Tena Ruter and husband John, Minnie Rietema and husband John; three brothers: Edward and wife Minnie, Herman, Elmer; three brothers-in-law: Heis Verbrugge, Harold Assink and Kelly Hensel.