REV. JOHN VAN ZWEDEN

In September, 1900, Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Van Zweden immigrated to the United States with their family. Among the children was young John, age 12, who was born near Goes, in Zeeland, The Netherlands, on September 28, 1888. They settled in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin area. In 1906 the Lord began working in him through the preaching of Rev. C. Peineman who was visiting Sheboygan at the time. Rev. Peineman was minister in the Grand Rapids, Michigan church.

The family moved to Grand Rapids and in September, 1911 John began to teach in the Hastings Street Christian School. The Lord brought him together with Mary Rottier and they were married on August 13, 1913, a blessed union which lasted over 66 years. The Lord continued to incline him towards serving in the church with his election to the office of elder in the Division Avenue Church at Grand Rapids where he served from January, 1914 until the end of 1923.

Having felt the call to the ministry he was permitted to preach as a lay preacher (oefenaar or practising minister) starting in 1922. The congregation at Passaic, New Jersey, called him, and he moved there on July 24, 1924. He was ordained as minister in Passaic on November 25, 1925. He also served the needs of the West Sayville, Long Island, church as well as two Paterson churches located at Haledon Avenue and Peoples Park. With the death of Rev. J. Van De Hoef in early 1942, Rev. Van Zweden began to serve all the congregations in North America, until the arrival of Rev. W. Lamain from the Netherlands in the Spring of 1947.

The Lord inclined him to accept a call from Rock Valley, Iowa, in early 1946 where he was installed by the late Rev. J.C. Wielhouwer. After some 29 years at Rock Valley, he became emeritus in early 1975. During his ministry he assisted with the organization of churches at Choteau, Montana; Fort Macleod and Lethbridge, Alberta; and Waupun, Wisconsin.

Upon conclusion of his ministry at Rock Valley, Rev. Van Zweden and his wife moved to a small apartment prepared especially for them in the home of their son, Joseph, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, some 45 miles from Rock Valley. He returned to Rock Valley in November, 1978, but this time to a nursing home after having been stricken and remained paralyzed on his left side. Although his voice was affected he often pointed upward and indicated a longing to go home to the heavenly rest. On November 9, 1979, he was granted the wish of his heart and the words of Psalm 17 were fulfilled: “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Thy likeness.” According to his wish he was buried in the cemetery at Rock Valley where Rev. VanDeHoef was laid to rest.

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