Gates, Seward – 1926-2010

BOWMAN, BRANDT, GATES, ROORDA

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 12/10/2010 at 13:07:49

Seward Gates, 84, of Pella died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, at his residence in Pella.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Third Reformed Church in Pella with interment following at the t’Lam Cemetery near Pella. Visitation will begin Wednesday morning at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home. The family will be present during a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be directed to Third Reformed Church Missions or the Hospice of Pella.
Seward is survived by his wife, Darlene (Roorda) Gates, and two children, Cynthia (Steve) Bowman of Hutchinson, Kan., and Jonathan (Debbie) Gates of Alexandria, Va.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Additional information from Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home website:
Seward Otis Gates and his twin brother were born February 23, 1926 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to Stephen and Helen Gates. He received his education in the Wayzata School District. Seward helped on the family farm until he was drafted into the military where he served sixteen months in the Army Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged to help on the family farm and continued farming on his own until 1955. He then enrolled at Chicago Bible College. It was there he met his wife Darlene Roorda and they were married in June, 1958. They spent their first years of marriage in Leeds, North Dakota and Mound, Minnesota where their two children, Cynthia Joy and Jonathan Mark, were born. Later the family moved back to Chicago where Seward continued his studies and graduated from Chicago Bible College. Seward and Darlene remained at the college as dorm parents and Seward as custodian until 1966. The following year they took up residency in Sully, Iowa. During this time Seward worked as custodian at the Lynnville-Sully Schools and his own painting business until his retirement.
Seward was an avid reader of Christian books and periodicals, along with Civil War historical fiction. Seward found great satisfaction in working with his hand, restoring the old and crafting the new. The workshop was his special place. Many pieces of his handwork are enjoyed by his family and friends. Bicycle riding and tractor rides were among his favorite things to do. Road trips to many parts of the U.S. were highlights, especially driving the Alcan Highway to Alaska. While he enjoyed his job and his hobbies, he valued and placed his relationship with Christ first. His life was changed at 29 years of age when he accepted Jesus as his Savior. He became interested and involved in Sunday School teaching and other lay ministries. He was a faithful supporter of several missionaries and ministries. It was always a blessing to him when these friends came to visit. During several winter trips he enjoyed the fellowship and ministry of helping at Melody Lane Christian Center in Mission, Texas. For the last several years, he attended Third Church in Pella. Seward entered his heavenly home on November 28, 2010.
He will be remembered by his wife Darlene, daughter Cynthia (Steve) Bowman of Hutchinson, Kansas, Jonathan (Debbie) of Alexandria, Virginia, brother David (Margaret) Gates of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, sister Muriel (Don) Brandt of Plymouth, Minnesota, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Seward was welcomed to his new home by Jesus and those who preceded him: his twin brother Galen (July, 1941), his parents, and his parents-in-law, Gerard and Jeannette Roorda.