Cornelius Charles Pastoor

Cornelius Charles Pastoor, age 88, of Jenison, MI, entered the joy of his Lord on January 10, 2022. We can say for him: Arise, shine for your Light has come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you—Isaiah 60:1.

Neal will be deeply missed by his wife of 62 years, Joyce Pastoor, his children: Rev. Carl & Mary Haak, Everett & Linda Buiter, Jane Woudenberg, and Charles & Jennifer Pastoor.
He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Mark & Bethany (Haak) Feenstra (Cornelius, Adam, Marcus, & Jacoba), Rev. Jonathan & Keri (Haak) Mahtani (Levi, Shane, Mayla, Ezra, Lyndi, Tressa, & Abel), Chad & Melanie (Haak) Noorman (Lucas, Zoe, Gwennan, & Carly), Everett Buiter, Charlie Buiter, Catherine, Ella, Isabelle, Miles, & William Pastoor.
Neal is mourned by his sister, Thelma Boonstra, brothers and sisters-in-law: Bruce Doezema, Loraine Doezema, Don & Judi Doezema, Bill & MaryAnn Doezema, Dave & Marcia Doezema, and many loving cousins, nephews, and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Charles & Jean Pastoor, siblings: Robert and Carol Pastoor, brothers and sisters-in-law: Harry Boonstra, Cornie & Fran Doezema, Evelyn Peters, Ruth Doezema, Chuck Doezema, and Dorothy Doezema, and great-granddaughters: Sarita and Wren Feenstra.

The family invites friends to visit with them on Thursday, January 13, from 4:00- 7:00 p.m. at Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church (7146 48th Ave., Hudsonville, MI 49426). Funeral Service: Friday, January 14 at 4:00 p.m.  Interment Service: Saturday, January 15 at 9:30 a.m. at  Georgetown Cemetery, Hudsonville, MI. Services will be conducted by the Reverends Carl Haak & Jonathan Mahtani. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian educational causes dear to Neal Pastoor: Heritage Christian School, Hope Christian School, Covenant Christian High School, and Protestant Reformed Special Education.

Born on October 19, 1933, Neal Pastoor married Helen Joyce Doezema on July 17, 1959, and was a faithful member in the Protestant Reformed Churches in which he served as elder. Neal loved Christian education, and served on the boards of Adams Christian School and Covenant Christian High School. He served his country in the Army of Occupation in Germany from 1954-1956. Neal contributed to the community where he worked for more than 50 years as a landlord in Grand Rapids, serving on the board of Jellema House. After leaving their home in SE Grand Rapids, Neal and Joyce enjoyed their life and friendships at the Waterford Place Community.

Neal Pastoor was a man of deep and varied interests.  His knowledge and curiosity was broad and extensive: he loved books, history (especially Civil War, Michigan, and local), church history, and theology; but his faith was simple—He loved God, the Church, Christian education, and his family.  He was a kind and generous man who found joy in the Lord and in the things of the Lord.  He worked to pass on a goodly heritage to the generations following him.

Wherever Neal went, you would find a book in his hand or pocket. He invested in the interests of his children, grandchildren, and great-grand children, and encouraged them to pursue knowledge in many subjects.  He often researched their interests and always had a newspaper article or  map on hand to give to his greats who shared his curiosity about the world.  He would never say “no”to a game of cribbage or dominoes with his tenants, friends, and family. After retiring in his early 80s, Neal was determined to continue learning and to keep actively involved with his community. His family benefited from his wealth of knowledge and tremendous memory of people and places.

To his grateful family, Cornelius Charles Pastoor is an example of a life well-lived. He truly fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith—II Timothy 4:7.  The memory of this righteous man is blessed!