Roy Howard Elsenbroek

Roy was very passionate about spreading the truth of Christ around the world in everything he did. Roy grew up in Paterson, NJ and moved with his wife Carol to Michigan where they raised their two children. Upon Carol’s passing in 2002, Roy continued to serve in various missions and spend quality time with his grandchildren. In 2008, he married Karla Gregg and eventually resided in Huntsville, AL.

Roy served around the world in the Peace Corps in Bangladesh as well as in the Marines where he served in the Vietnam War, receiving the Vietnamese Medal of Honor for his heroic actions for the Vietnamese people. Roy was very active in the World Home Bible League, he also served and supported Operation Mobilization, serving in the Asia-Pacific rim providing logistics needs for many servants of the gospel including Billy Graham and George VerWer.

He was a Corrections Deputy for the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, as well as an employee of Reyers North Valley Chapel, and security guard for Rockford High School. Roy loved his family, his Marines, his fellow leaders of OM and most importantly his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Gertrude Elsenbroek, brother, James Elsenbroek and wife Carol Elsenbroek.

His is survived by his wife, Karla Gregg Elsenbroek of 14 years, daughter Heather Rush (Brian Rush), son Scott Elsenbroek (Jodi), granddaughters, Autumn Rush Lemieux (Jean Michael) and Mikayla Rush, great granddaughter Quinn Lemieux as well as other sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at Reyers North Valley Chapel on Saturday, March 25th at 11:00am EST, 2340 Dean Lake Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI, officiated by Roy’s long-time pastor and friend, Pastor Lew VanderMeer. It will be live streamed in Huntsville, AL, at the Villas at Jones Valley Clubhouse at 10:00am CST, with lunch following. Processional and graveside services, including military honors, will be held at Washington Park Memorial Gardens at 2:00pm EST, following the luncheon. If you would like to pay your respects, visitation will be at Reyers North Valley Chapel on Friday, March 24th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Operation Mobilization.