John (Jack) Stewart

Rev. John William Stewart, Jr. died at home on October 7, 2023.
He leaves behind his wife Maureen and three sons: Calvin Stewart (Susan) of Silverthorne, CO and grandchildren: Olivia (Brock) Shoemaker and great-grandson Willem; Merrick (Kristi) and great-grandson Jackson Stewart, and Elissa Stewart (Todd Carpenter and son Carson); son Todd Stewart (Rebecca) of Wilmette, IL and their children Luke, Joe and Addison; and son Keith Stewart (Sheryl) of Grand Rapids, MI and their children: Billy (Olenka) and great- granddaughter Remi Stewart, Peter (Monreau) Stewart, Jake Stewart, and Stephanie Stewart.

Jack was born on April 28, 1934, and raised south of Pittsburgh in Donora, PA. His parents were John William and Ada Randlett Stewart. He had one sister, Doris, also deceased. He graduated from Donora High School and attended Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and University of Michigan.

He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church as a pastor and served two churches in Pittsburgh and one in New Wilmington, PA before going to Hope College as an associate professor. He was called to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids in 1974, where he was senior pastor for 16 years. He returned to teaching, first at Grand Valley State University, then to Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, where he finished his teaching career, retiring in 2006 and returning to Grand Rapids.

Jack loved to travel and taught or addressed students in Egypt, Nepal and South Africa. He enjoyed fly fishing with his sons and grandchildren and loved summers at his beloved cabin on Lime Lake in northern Michigan, teaching family and friends how to fish. He authored five books and several articles on Presbyterian history, focusing especially on 19 century theologian Charles Hodge of Princeton Seminary. He was a big fan of University of Michigan football and basketball.