Robert M. Vander Zaag

Robert M. Vander Zaag (Bob) was born and raised in his family home in Grand Rapids, MI, the second child of Agatha and Maynard Vander Zaag. Bob had two sisters: Lois (Henry) and Nancy (Brosseit).

Bob’s early years were shaped by academic pursuits, athletics and national service. The Korean War broke out when he was in junior college, and Bob, along with many of his classmates, left school to enlist in the Armed Forces. Based in England, he served as staff sergeant in the United States Air Force and was assigned to the Office of the Chaplain. The purpose of his placement in England would soon unfold. It was during this time that a fellow serviceman asked Bob to help test his memory of Bible passages—a request that inadvertently led Bob to memorize Scripture himself. This experience became a turning point in his spiritual journey and ultimately led him to dedicate his life to Christ.

Bob completed a B.A. from Wheaton College in 1958, a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1961, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1980. It was while serving as Sr. Pastor in Sierra Madre, reading Dr. M. R., De Haan’s biography, he learned that Dr. De Haan, founder of Our Daily Bread—had dedicated Bob, as an infant, to the Lord and to the ministry. Bob had pursued an education in Theology and a life of service to the Lord without ever knowing his life had been determined for the ministry from the start.

At Wheaton College Bob sang and traveled with the Men’s Glee Club. He and one of his buddies were original distributors of the Frisbee and the Hula Hoop, demonstrating and selling them at every college in the Chicago area. Bob met Glenda at Wheaton in 1956 and they married the day after graduation in June of 1958. That fall, Bob began his studies at Gordon Conwell Seminary. He worked at Park Street Church under Dr. Harold John Ockenga —co-founder of Christianity Today and first president of Fuller Theological Seminary. After graduation, Bob became Senior Pastor at Union Congregational Church in Magnolia, MA and then moved to the Evangelical Congregational Church of South Easton. Bob, Glenda, and their daughters Deborah and Cheryl lived across the street from the church in a 100-year-old parsonage.

In the winter of 1968, Bob was asked to candidate at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre. He declined, saying that he was happy and that he wasn’t looking for a new position. He was told “we’re not looking for an unhappy pastor.” Bob ended up visiting Bethany that February where it was 70 degrees while the temperatures in Massachusetts it hovered around 7 degrees. That spring, Bob and Glenda packed up the family and moved across the country. Bob would serve as Senior Pastor at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre for the next 15 years. This was a time of great enthusiasm and growth, with a strong church membership involved in hands-on projects like the sanctuary renovation and missions outreach.

Bob was a dedicated tennis player, maintaining a twice-weekly habit in Sierra Madre that continued when he and Glenda moved to Laguna Niguel. He loved working in the yard where he cultivated a beautiful, year-round garden of lawns, flowering plants, fruit trees, and vegetables. With the exception of the times he tied a rope around Glenda’s waist to stabilize the trees he was trimming, he did all his own gardening— mowing his own lawn until he was 93.

Bob could fix anything and was an avid woodworker. He spent his spare time customizing cabinetry, building furniture, and even traveling to assist friends and family with their own home projects. He was a lifelong World War II buff, consuming every book and documentary he could find on the subject.

He took great pride in keeping the family cars spotless—a habit Bob attributed to his Dutch heritage. He washed his final car on June 22, 2025, just after turning 93, and while using a walker. He was tough! His humor was truly endearing—subtle and restrained. Whether he was laughing at Johnny Carson late at night, exchanging stories with friends, or teasing a family member, the sound of his laughter remains a cherished memory for everyone in the family.

Bob joined the staff of South Shores Church, serving as Minister of Visitation and leading the Grief Share Program for the past 12 years. He developed and taught the Christianity 101 class for new believers who had come to know Christ through Grief Share. These last years would become one of the most rich and meaningful periods of his ministry, with Glenda at his side in all aspects of his service. Bob brought to his work compassion and clarity rooted deeply in Scripture. He and his ministry were steeped in authenticity as he openly shared his own questions and struggles and stood steadily with those who were suffering. He cherished the Men's Bible Study and Grief Share groups, and attended both for the last time just three weeks before his passing. He lived out his faith daily—emphasizing eternity and regularly reminding others that our time on earth is brief compared to the glory that awaits those who know God personally. He often said “the Best is yet to come” and treasured the promises found in Revelation 21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away.”

Robert M. Vander Zaag is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Glenda; his daughter Deborah and her two sons, Andrew and James Tulin; and his daughter, Cheryl and her husband, Don Andrues.

A memorial service was held on May 16 at 1:00 p.m. at South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, CA 92629.

Please use this link to view the service virtually:

https://southshores.org/robert-vanderzaag-memorial