John Feyereisen

John Feyereisen was a gift from God!

He was born March 3, 1964 in North Aurora, Illinois where he grew up helping his dad in the stables with the horses, helping mom with the dishes, tagging along behind big brother Paul in whatever he was doing, lending a listening ear to Brenda as she talked about boys, giving younger brother Greg a hard time, and doting on much younger sister Erika. He was a gentle and obedient son who kept a lot to himself – but there was always a lot going on behind those beautiful brown eyes.

He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, but wasn’t really all that interested in that field. He was, however, interested in a young lady from Japan who also graduated, so he decided to follow her across the ocean to live with her family in Japan. After a few years of teaching ESL, the relationship with the Japanese girlfriend ended, and the Lord used that (and a series of other events) to lead him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He was baptized in the Pacific Ocean and was given sermon tapes of Pastor John MacArthur from the Japanese Pastor, because the pastor didn’t understand English. John was eager to learn more about the Bible and became desirous to learn more. He left Japan to attend the seminary that was connected to these tapes – The Master’s Seminary in southern California. He moved there in 1994. He immediately got a job with the custodial department of Grace Community Church and soon became the second shift supervisor. His plan was to graduate and return to Japan as a missionary. In 1996 he was discussing this desire with Dave Tucker of the missionary organization SEND International, and was invited to attend their five-day family conference at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He flew from California with close friend Tim Bosch, ad landed in the same “Explorer Track” that a certain Trudy Beauchamp did (designed for those interested in becoming missionaries with SEND). John and Trudy immediately hit it off, discussing both ministry and theology, and parted as friends.

John then moved his studies from the seminary to the biblical counseling program. He and Trudy sporadically communicated in various forms for two years, until it became apparent to John the he needed to either cut off communication or pursue Trudy romantically. He wrote a letter to her regarding this, but when he came to the end he decided to pick up the phone and read it to her to find out how she felt. After that phone call (and subsequent prayers and a visit from Trudy to see John in California), they were married 8 months later, on March 13, 1999.

After marriage, John became employed at a small graphic arts supply shop in Chatsworth, California called Hantal for nine years. In 2005 while in the midst of writing his thesis for a Master’s in Biblical Counseling (which he was never able to finish), John had his first brain cancer surgery and recovered very well, receiving MRIs every three months to keep an eye on things. In 2008 he left his job with Hantal and became a donor entry clerk for the non-profit Children’s Hunger Fund in Sylmar, California.

John and Trudy were active in ministry in various churches in California and also enjoyed ministering from their house.

John’s cancer returned in 2013 and he had a second brain surgery in February of that year, where they removed a golf ball sized tumor in the left frontal lobe. This surgery would be much harder on John and his recovery more difficult. But three months later he returned to his position at Children’s Hungry Fund and worked until his position was eliminated in July of 2015.

Within six weeks of losing his job, John and Trudy moved to Holland, Michigan where they first met to start afresh. However within the first year a new tumor emerged near John’s right side motor strip, and he had his first ever seizure, which led to three surgeries within 8 months. This took a great toll on John.

Again, he and Trudy became active as much as they could in ministry at church and loved their new home. John was put on disability due to the seizures and placed on hospice care and his life changed. He slowly started losing abilities on the right side of his body, making it difficult to walk. The week after his 57th birthday, March 10 of this year, he had a significant seizure that landed him in a hospital bed at home, and by April he had lost his ability to speak.

Through it all, John kept his eyes on Jesus and his countenance loving and kind towards all those around him caring for him. A new family emerged in our life through Lakeshore Senior Care, and the Lord led him tenderly to heaven through the hands on ministry of many.

He was a hard worker, perseverant, diligent, approachable, loved theology and loved his God and wanted so much to please him and live for him. The Lord Jesus Christ enabled him to do just that until he took him home on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 with his wife Trudy, his caregiver Sarah, and his sister Brenda via phone at his side.

John is survived by his wife Trudy of Holland, Michigan; his mother Cheryl Hounshell of Sheridan, Illinois; his parents Paul and Pam Feyereisen of North Aurora, Illinois; his older brother Paul Feyereisen of Fort Pierce, Florida; his older sister Brenda Cooper and her husband Bob and daughter Rachael of Fort Pierce, Florida; his younger brother Greg Daneau of North Aurora, Illinois; his younger sister Erika Feyereisen of Sacramento, California; his step-sister Kay Wackerlin of Sandwich, Illinois, and his step-sister Kellie Hounshell of Ottawa, Illinois.

The memorial service has been cancelled due to Covid.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of the organizations that was instrumental in John’s support and care these last five months: Compassionate Care Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, 517 32nd Street, Holland, MI 49423, or Lakeshore Senior Care, 320 120th Ave #230, Holland, MI 49424.