John F DeVries

Rev. John Frederick DeVries, a Presbyterian minister, died peacefully on April 19, 2016. At his home in the Presbyterian Homes retirement community in Evanston Il. He was 88 years old, and has now entered the realm of eternity, where he is safe with God.

Rev. DeVries lived an impressive life of great distinction. He was a servant leader who was a minister of the Gospel for over fifty years. He was a treasured and beloved husband. He was a good father. He was a master musician at the piano and flute, and could sing with great skill. He was a peacemaker who objected to war. He was an exceptional brother to his five siblings. He respected and loved his parents. He enjoyed travel, bicycling, and camping. He spent considerable time in Europe and the Middle East as a young man. He was extremely intelligent and was exceptionally well organized. He invariably exhibited tremendous personal courage in his struggles with serious illness. He contracted cancer at age 65, and with the help of exceptional medical care, forced the cancer into remission for more than twenty years. He refused to let personal tragedies defeat him. He believed that all persons were children of God.. He was greatly loved by his caregivers at Presbyterian Homes. He will be missed by all who knew him. Rev. DeVries was a mighty soul.

Rev. DeVries was born on June 16, 1927 in Sibley, Iowa to his parents, Rev. John Martin DeVries and Elsa Reineking DeVries. His father was a Reformed Church minister and master carpenter. He was the fourth of six children. There were three boys and three girls in the family. The DeVries family emphasized and valued the Christian Church, music, and education. All six children were skilled musicians, and the three sons became Christian ministers. Rev. DeVries exhibited immense musical talent. This talent was developed through many hours of hard practice and deep love for music. He regularly entered and won statewide music competitions in flute and piano when he was in high school. Rev. DeVries was an honor student, and graduated from Sibley High School in 1945.

Rev. DeVries continued his education at Hope College, in Holland, Michigan, and earned a Philosophy Degree (B.A.) in 1949. Immediately after graduation, he was called into Christian missionary service, and worked as a schoolteacher at a boys’ school in Basra, Iraq for four years. In 1953, he met Dorothy Jud, who was a missionary schoolteacher in Baghdad. They were married in Riesel, Texas on August 15, 1953. Their union produced two sons, John Timothy DeVries and Mark James DeVries, and one daughter, Margaret Ellen DeVries, who died almost immediately after birth.

Rev. DeVries graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1955, and commenced his career as a Reformed Church clergyman. He first served a Reformed church in Beacon, NY, but soon decided to join the Presbyterian Church USA, because it promoted a more inclusive theology. Rev. DeVries served Presbyterian USA churches in South Bend, Indiana; Madison, Indiana; Rochelle, Illinois; Lansing, Illinois;, and Saginaw, Michigan from 1956 through 1984. In 1984, at age 57, Rev. DeVries decided to become an “interim minister” (a minister who serves churches where the Senior Minister position is vacant) and he excelled in this role. Rev. DeVries served as an Intentional Interim Minister for Presbyterian USA churches in Lincroft, New Jersey; Coral Gables, Florida; Cody, Wyoming; Rock Island, Illinois; and Racine, Wisconsin before his retirement in 1994.

In 1979, Rev. DeVries married Caroline Rockwell Mardon, in Saginaw, Michigan. They met at a spiritual retreat sponsored by Ghost Ranch, a retreat center in northern New Mexico run by the Presbyterian USA Church that was exceedingly close to Rev. DeVries’ heart, in the summer of 1977.

This marriage provided bountiful emotional support and great love for Rev. DeVries. John and Caroline DeVries shared 26 years of happiness as husband and wife, before Caroline died of cancer in December 2005.

John and Caroline lived in Racine, Wisconsin from 1991 until 2000. In 2000, they moved to Evanston, Il to join the Presbyterian Homes retirement community, where Rev. DeVries lived for the rest of his life. Initially, John and Caroline lived in an apartment on the Presbyterian Homes campus. When Caroline died, Rev. DeVries moved to an Independent Living apartment building for senior citizens, and he eventually was placed in Assisted Living quarters at the Presbyterian Homes.

Until he was no longer able, Rev. DeVries was active in the life of Northminster Presbyterian Church of Evanston, Il. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life and resurrection at the Northminster Presbyterian Church of Evanston on Friday, May 6th, at 1 PM. Rev. DeVries will be interred at a graveside service in Saginaw, Michigan, on Saturday, May 7th, at 10 AM.

Rev. DeVries is survived by his sons, John DeVries of Waco, Texas, and Rev. Mark DeVries (Susan) of Nashville, Tenn. He is survived by his five grandchildren: Leigh DeVries of Princeton, New Jersey; Debbie Wince (Trey) of Princeton, New Jersey; Rev. Adam DeVries (Sara) of Nashville, Tennessee; Sarah DeVries (Carlos) of Xalapa, Mexico; and Lisa DeVries of Victoria, Texas. Rev. DeVries is survived by his four great grandchildren: Parish and Nealy DeVries of Nashville, Tennessee; William (Liam) Wince IV of Princeton, New Jersey; and Lisa Perez DeVries of Xalapa, Mexico. Rev. DeVries is survived by two siblings: Rev. Lorenz DeVries (Heather) of Indian Head Park, Il and Mary DeVries of Eagan, Minn. Other survivors include former sister in law Jean Beach of Saginaw, Michigan, former brother in law Hiel Rockwell, Jr of Saginaw, Michigan, two stepsons..Bruce Mardon and Larry Mardon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses their deepest appreciation and respect to the staff of Presbyterian Homes for the truly exceptional medical care and friendship and was consistently provided to Rev. DeVries.

Rev. DeVries was graced by visits from his sons, grandchildren, brother & sister in law, and sister during the last week of his life.

Memorial gifts in Rev. DeVries’ honor may be sent to:

GHOST RANCH, 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiu, NM 87510

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, 122 East 42nd Street, New York City, NY 10168

JUSTICE INDUSTRIES, 5229 Cochran, Nashville, Tn 37220

(International Rescue Committee helps refugees in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.)

(Justice Industries creates businesses that hire and mentor the chronically unemployed & underemployed.)

This was a most extraordinary life. He touched many lives in a positive way, and his influence continues. He was a servant of God who did his best.

Arrangements under the direction of Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, Wilmette, IL.