VanEngen, Garold Rev. 1913-2001

VANENGEN, DRENT, MUYSKENS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg- volunteer (email)
Date: 6/24/2012 at 19:29:44

Sioux county Capital Sep 13, 2001
Garold J. Van Engen
The Rev. Garold Van Engen, age 87, of Orange City, passed away Monday, Sept. 3 at the Orange City Municipal Hospital Long Term Care Facility. A memorial service was held on Friday, Sept. 7, at 4:00 p.m. at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Jonathan Opgenorth and the Rev. Dr. Charles Van Engen will officiate. Interment was prior to the service at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Garold John, who was actually named Gerrit, was born Oct. 30,1913 in Prairie City, la., the son of John andRosie (Drent) Van Engen. He was raised at Prairie City; Prairie View, Kas.; Panama, Neb.; and Pella, Neb. He changed his name because there were several Gerrit Van Engens.
Garold attended the Wooden Shoe Country School and graduated from the Firth, Neb. High School in 1930.1n 1936, he went to Central College in Pella, graduating in 1940. He then went to Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich., graduating in 1943.

On June 1, 1943, he married Ruth Muyskens of Alton, at the Pella, Neb. Reformed Church. A few weeks later at General Synod, Garold and Ruth were commissioned as Reformed Church in America missionaries to Mexico. After Spanish language study in Mexico City, they went to Chiapas in the spring of 1944. While in Chiapas, Garold was involved in Bible School work, rural mass evangelism, printing, Bible correspondence courses, medical work, missionary support and communication, mission treasurer, and working with the Chiapas Presbytery. After serving the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico for 34 years, Garold and Ruth retired to Orange City in 1978.

Ruth passed away Feb. 17, 1999 in Orange City. For the past several years, Garold has lived at the Long Term Care Facility.

Survivors include his four children, Ronald John Van Engen and his wife, Janice of Atlanta, Ga.; Bernice Rose and her husband, Ramon Justamente of.Miami, Fl.; Charles Edward Van Engen and his wife, Jean of Glendora, Ca.; and Elizabeth Ann Van Engen of Quito, Ecuador; seven granchildren, Ronald Van Engen, Jr. and his wife, LeAnne; Amelia Van Engen; Anita and her husband, John Bateman; Andrew Van Engen; Ruth Justamente, David Justamente, and Cristina Justamente; and two great-grandchildren, Cody and Joshua Van Engen.

Memorials are being directed to Spanish language leadership training in Chiapas, Mexico: Reformed Church in America, c/o the Rev, Roger De Young, 4500 60th Street Southeast; Grand Rapids, Mich. 49512.