Kenneth VanderBroek ’59

After living a good, long life, Rev. Kenneth E. VanderBroek, age 97, went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the morning of December 6, 2021, following a short illness. He was born in Grand Rapids, MI, attended Central High School before enlisting in the Navy, serving in the Pacific on submarines in WWll. Upon returning home, he went to work with his father at VanderBroek Roofing Co. in Grand Rapids. Before long, he felt called to full-time Christian ministry. After completing Hope College, he went on for his degree at Western Theological Seminary. Confirming this direction from God, this hands-on-man-in-control who hated school became a great preacher and teacher, used by God to touch many lives. Ken served at Southgate Community Reformed Church near Detroit, Hope Reformed in Kalamazoo, and Fair Haven Reformed in Jenison. When he was not ministering, you could find him at the family cottage spending time with friends and family. He loved fishing, hunting, water sports, and snowmobiling. He and his first wife, Doris, raised seven children together.

He retired and moved to Florida. Ken and his second wife, Kathy, enjoyed all of God’s masterpiece in nature traveling extensively in their motor home, including to Alaska, his favorite place. After several years of traveling, they settled in Titusville, FL where he was lead to start his final church in The Great Outdoors RV community there. Eventually, they returned to Michigan to be near family. Ken was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Mina; wife, Kathy; sons-in-law Al and Dale; and grandson, Brandon VanderBroek. He is survived by his children Carole VanderBroek ’71 Scholten, Sue (John) Smith, Marilyn Redeker, Dave (Sandi) VanderBroek, Ruth (Jack) Powell, Steve (Sharon) VanderBroek, and Tim (Teran) VanderBroek, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A time to reflect and visit with his family will be held at Cook Memorial Chapel, 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, on Friday, December 10 at 1 p.m. A service will follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Western Theological Seminary. The family welcomes memories and messages on the online guest book at www.cookcaresgrandville.com .

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