Grandpa K's final (written) words

 

as best as I can tell Grandpa K wrote :

"I feel i am going soon if my Lord wills it. 

I am ready to go. Thy will be done. 

 I love all of you but I hope 

all of you love Jesus

[He was at Artesia Christian Rest Home at this time]

written by Granda K (excerpts )

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Bellflower, Calif. 90706 ~~Dear Grace~~ Dear Family: August, 1983 ~~Dear sons and daughters and other family:~~

The great month of August is here. I call it great because_ if the Lord wills and I live, this is the month when I hope_ to celebrate_ my 80th birthday. That means that I will have_ lived through 80 eventful and wonderful years of history. In 1903 the Wright brothers were sprouting their wings, the automobile was beginning to develop with Henry Ford. When I was born the doctor came_ four miles by horse and buggy and since_ my folks had no phone yet, I wonder how he was called. In 1914 we had our first car and I learned_ to drive. In 1929 I traveled by airplane from Grand Rapids to Milwaukee and was the first Chris tian Reformed minister, I was told, to keep a preaching appointment by airplane, of course I was only a student at that time.

I lived_ through several wars; World-war I and II, The Korean war, The war with Vietnam. Thankfully only one relative was killed or injured during those wars, & of our family only Woody saw active duty. Also during this time we had the great flu epidemic_ during the Ist World War and later there was the_ great depression of the '30s.

And during all those years the Lord led me_ most wonderfully. He placed me in a good Christian home with parents who made_ sure that I would know God and his love. They were faithful members of the church. When I was born they had me baptized in The Reformed Church of Friesland where they were members at that time. When I was five years old a group of families founded the_ First Christian Reformed Church of Randolph._ It was located about 1 and ½ mile west of our place, but by road it was atleast 4 miles. We often walked to church through the fields. The sermons were all preached in the Dutch language and I don't think I heard a sermon in the American language until I was about 15 years old, but we always attended both services when possible.

When I was about 5 or 6 years old I was enrolled in the public school near home, but before long a group of parents establish_d a Christian school and from that time on all my education was God centered and based on the Bible_ and I can never thank God enough for this. When I was 14 years old I graduated from the 8th grade and was the first graduate_ of that school. Then I went to Calvin and Grundy College and ~~the~~ Calvin Seminary, until I graduated from Seminary in 1930. Then began more than 50 blessed years in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To God be all the praise. I am still preaching. Last Sunday we were in Long Beach twice and if the Lord wills we will be in Bethany for one or two services on September 25.

Well this was not intended to be an autobiography, but I guess it is the tendency of_ old people to reminis_ce so forgive me.

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LIFE ON TWIN OAK FARM by GRANDPA

Once granpa was a boy like you but I lived on a farm four miles from the town of Randolph, Wisconsin. The farm had many big trees, hickory and oak trees and my father was cutting down trees all the time to clear the land for crops and when I was about 15 years old all the trees were gone except two big oak trees which are still standing and for which our farm was named. "The Twin Oak Farm." Some day when you visit Randolph, Wisconsin you will no doubt see them.

When I was a little boy there were two houses and a shed on the farm. My grandfather and grandmother lived in the old house behind the new house which my father, your great grandfather, Sam Kok, built when he married Reka Vander Galien, my mother. Great Uncle Henry still lives in that house. In the house I was born and so were all my brothers and sisters. One little brother and baby sister died there. I lived there until I left home to attend school at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The farm was a wonderful place. We had cows, horses, chickens, ducks rabbits, goats and pigs. For pets we had dogs and cats. We raised many kinds of crops: corn, rye, wheat, oats, barley, peas, cabbage, hay and all kinds of vegtables. When the grain was ready in the fall we cut it with a binder drawn by horses. It tied grain in bundles and these were set up in the field in what we called shocks. Every year there were thousands of shocks. Then when the grain was ripe and dry we would come with horses and wagons to pick it up and put it in big stacks. The stacks looked like upside down ice cream cones higher than the trees you see near your house. Later on the threshing machine would come. It was pulled by big engines which burned coal and gave out big clouds of smoke. It had a very loud whistle which could be heard for many miles. It was sounded by pulling a rope and we kids loved to sound that whistle. After the threshing machine had been placed between two stacks of grain the farmers would get on top of the stacks to pitch to bundles into the machine.

The threshing machine was sometimes called a separater because it separated the grain from the straw. The straw was blown out of a blower to form a big straw stack. The grain came out of a pipe and was caught in big bags which were carried into the grainery where it was stored until it was ground up for feed for the animals.

On threshing days all neighbors would work together and my mother and neighbor ladies would make a big dinner with lots of meat, homemade bread and pies. It was like a big feast and we kids thought it was a great time.

After threshing was finished my mother and the hired girl would empty our bed mattresses and fill them up with new straw that we called straw sacks. That night we would have to climb in bed and lay on the straw sack. It was fun and smelled good.

Now how would you like to live on a farm like that?

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but the Lord poured it out faster than we could for all of us are richer than we were 10 years ago.."

8. First Bellfl. grew very fast within a couple years we had to double the seating capacity of the church, but from the very first meeting the church was filled to capacity many Sunday mornings some 50 children sat on the platform with me.

9. We were having two services a sunday, but we soon learned that there was need for more American language services so we introduced a second morning service and I had to preach three times a sunday which I did for more than 10 yeers and the church filled up every time.

10. Growth 1935 70 Fam. when we left 285 plus Bethany Sermons preached 1532 Children Baptized 520 once 15 oh one Sunday Marriages 145 couples Confessions of faith 284 Classis Calif. 1935 (including all Calif, N. mex. Ari. about 7 churches) [Handwritten margin note:] Just in Bellflower

11. War years; about 100 men in the service I wrote each one every month no copies. One dear young man was killed in the battle of the bulge. He was clarence Nooteboom.

A terrible disaster one Sunday 5 members of one family was killed in a car accident, one little girl survived.

11. When we left Bellflowre all our soldiers except the casualty were home.

12. Oct. 46 God called us to Holland, Mich. We looked forward to a bit more relaxed life only two*[handwritten over "tywt"]* sermons a week and no more Dutch. The parsonage was not so busy but the Lord had different plans. Kathryn became ill, but we decided to take a leisurly trip to Calif. which she enjoyed, but not long afterward she came down with severe headaches which proved to be caused by a brain tumor and befort long the Lord called her home. I struggled along for a couple years until the Lord brought Ada and me together. The parsonage because*[handwritten]* a beehive of life with 10 kids and we were happy.

13. While in Holland I became a member of the Back to God hour committee on which served about 9 yeras. I also became chairman of the C.R. Board of Home Missions which I srrved for many year since its founding in Bellflower. I do not know when I started serving on the Calvin Bd. but I served 9 years there during the beginning of the new campus.

14. In 1954 we moved to Edgerton, Minn. And from there we were called to the Hanford Ca. where we served about ten happy yeras during which time we enjoyed till a grand trip to Europe and the Bible Lands as agift from the church.

When I reached retirement age I agreed to work as a home missionary i\ Class. Calif. for a couple yeras and then we moved to Bellflower and retirement. We served Bethany for a number of yeras as pastor of visitation and seved a large number of churches for short periods of time. [Handwritten note:] Also served at Home again in Artesia

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Bellflower, California August 29, 1973

Dear Children and grandchildren. Today I became a septuagenarian, that is something like a centipede, but not exactly. It is 70 years ago today that the Lord introduced me to life on this earth and now I can look back over threescore years and ten and rejoice in the wonderful way the Lord has led me.

To begin with I am very thankful that my father and mother were sincere christians , who did their best to lead me in the way of life and to provide with a sound christian education. By their example they taught me to love , honor and obey God and to worship Him faithfully not only by attending church faithfullyk but also with personal and family devotions. It was through them that I was prepared to serve God in the ministry of the gospel in which I have now been engaged for more than 43 years.

I am also very thankful for the way in which the Lord has led me. It was always my prayer that He might direct me so that I would know and do His will and He has never let me down. I have never regretted His leading to the variouschurches I have served . Every move we made, I was sure was His will and I have never regretted going wher He led me. That does not mean that the way in which He led us was always easy, there were times when the work was difficult and discouraging. There were sorrows, anxieties, tears and disappointments and heartaches, and I failed God in many ways and sinned often, but I always found God's grace sufficient to lead me through these experiences in such away that my faith was built up and my love for Him grew stronger. One result of these experiences was that I could preach with more conviction than before. I know that God's word is true, His promises never fail, and they who trust in the Lord and follow Jesus will never be sorry. He is the truth, the Way and the life,even as He said.

It has been my privilege now to preach the gospel for more than 43 years, on September 12 it will be the 43rd anniversary of my ordination, but I started preaching about two years before that as a student. Only God knows what has been accomplished through my efforts, I sowed or preached, but He gave the increase and so to Him belongs all the praise. I trust that many have benefitted by the messages so that they were encouraged and their faith was strengthened and I hope siners were converted.

As to the future, my desire is to keep on preaching the word of God as long as the Lord will give me the ability to do it, and I would like to enjoy a few more years on earth with my.dear ones, who I love so very much and who have given me so much joy, but God's will be done. Whatever his will, I know my future is bright, because I have the Lord's promise that He will never leave me of forsake me, and that when death comes, I will move in with Him, absent from the body, but at home with the Lord. Then when Jesus comes again, I/ will join all God's people to meet Him in the air and then to live with him with my glorified body on the new earth.

My wish and prayer is that everyone of you may love the Lord and be faithful to him, so that some day you too may join the multitude which no man can count standing before the throne of God, serving Him day and night without ceasing. God bless you all with everlasting happiness , the happiness which can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.

At our birthday dinner I read Psalms 23 and 90 and Proverbs 4, and Romans 8: from verse 28. Psalm 23 is the Psalm with which I awake nearly every morning, it gives me what I need to face the uncertainties of the day. Proverbs 4 I read because it contains the advice of a father who is deeply concerned for the eternal welbeing of his children. It has been my aim to follow its teaching and I have found it sound advice. May you too keep it in mind.

Although I wrote this letter as a personal testimony, mother joins me in our pryaers for you, and we hope you will always be faithful to the God who has been so very faithful to us. Worship Him in love.

Thanks for your birthday cards, letters and gifts.

Love [Handwritten Signature] Dad Kok

So my Great Grandfather (on the Peters side) helped start the Christian schools in Holland MI

reconstructed by AI 

so, my great grandfather (Abraham?) helped started the Christian schools in Holland Michigan ?! Wow , what great heritage I have ! on one side of the family, Valley Christian Schools started by Grandpa K, and on the other side, Holland Christian Schools started Great Grandpa P ! 

verbatim of above (created by AI) 

from the Lamont CRC News magazine

*Many do not know of this former member of Lamont CRC - Mr. Ted Peters. This is my memory. He was born shortly before 1900 in Holland, MI. His father was a very important person in the Holland area, particularly when it came to the Christian Reformed Church and Christian Schools. He was instrumental in starting the Christian School Movement in Holland. 

Ted was a member of a rather large family. He had what is known as the Midas touch. He became a very influential member of the ABC appliance industry, selling appliances wholesale to much of the eastern half of the United States. At the time of the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago he had reserved for his business purposes an entire floor of a major hotel in downtown Chicago. 

His representatives, those who sold ABC appliances from all over the country, could stay in the suites of this floor for free. They could drink all of the liquor they could handle plus, and other amenities were available to them, all at no cost to the representatives. Ted married. His wife Myrtle bore him a son. 

However, they had no time for children. The son was educated largely in boarding schools and the like. When his son opted not to follow in his father's footsteps, Ted sold his business and went into commercial real estate. In his office at 4871 Leonard St were a series of filing cabinets that held the blueprints of his commercial properties worldwide. Ted had renounceD Christianity. He had no time for church. He and his wife Myrtle could very well get along without God.

 When Myrtle could no longer remember anything from her past; she had to be institutionalized because of what we have come to know as Alzheimer’s. Shortly after Myrtle was hospitalized, Ted had an auto accident on one of the curves on Leonard St. As he drove his Trans Am around the curve, a milk truck tipped over on top of his vehicle. Ted crawled out of the remains of the automobile with nary a scratch on him.

 Shortly after this Ted experienced yet another strange event. A couple of men came to his door late one night and he made a mistake of allowing them in. It was not long before Ted was forced to open his safe for them after which he was trussed up and thrust into a closet and left to die. Somehow he managed to get free from his bonds and to call for help.

 Ted decided that he needed God after all. There were just too many things that were going wrong in his life and he realized that he was not in control of either, his life, nor his finances. He walked across the street to the parsonage of the Christian Reformed Church and rang the doorbell of Rev. Veenstra. He introduced himself to the pastor and stated that he wanted 

..."to come back to the church of youth, to his father’s church. He appeared before council and made a recommitment to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. From that day on he was one of the most faithful members of our congregation. Not only was he in church twice each Sunday, he also attended Men’s Society and Adult Sunday School classes faithfully. About the time he rejoined the church, our congregation had decided to build an educational wing onto our existing church structure.

 Ted asked about the finances of the project as he became more conversant with the affairs of the congregation. When he found out how much money was due to those who where engineering the building of the wing, he offered to pay the remaining amount as a gift to the congregation. It was a substantial amount.

 Ted hired my son Rick and me to paint the inside and outside of his residence on Leonard Street in 1980 or thereabouts. The job lasted all summer. The house itself is rather tall. We worked off scaffolding that Ted had rented and directed by himself. While we may have been a bit fearful of working on the top of that scaffold, 

Ted thought nothing of climbing the entire scaffold and climbing onto the roof of the house to check the condition of the roof and chimneys. He had been a pilot, and had the propeller of one of the planes that he had bought from the United States government at the close of World War II mounted on the wall behind his desk.

 Ted lived several years after these events took place. Slowly he began to experience mental difficulties. Before long he had to have 24/7 care in his own home. He had the finances to pay for such services and until he died he lived under those circumstances. Ted died Aug 2, 1985. Respectfully submitted by Coke Vredevoogd"

Tributes to Grandpa K

click to view in PDF format

Gareth S. Kok was born on August 29, 1903, at Twin Oaks Farm near Randolph, Wisconsin, the eldest of nine children. Initially destined to be a dairy farmer like his father, a pivotal conversation with his local minister, Dominie Bajema, set him on a new path. At age 14, he left the farm to attend Calvin Preparatory School in Michigan.

His educational journey was marked by resilience and independence. Following a difficult year at Calvin, he moved to Grundy College in Iowa, where he spent six years earning both his high school and college degrees. He eventually returned to Calvin, where he overcame initial resistance to his qualifications and successfully graduated from the Seminary in 1930.

Throughout his early development, Gareth was characterized by a deep love of reading and a humble, hardworking nature. Although he was plagued by apprehension and doubt regarding his suitability for the ministry during his studies, he excelled in his examinations, earning high praise from his professors. He would go on to become the first seminarian to travel to a preaching assignment by airplane.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

Modern-Day Example

Just as Gareth felt apprehension about his calling and doubted if he was "cut out" for the ministry, a modern-day student might feel intense anxiety and "imposter syndrome" before their first major public presentation or job interview. However, by trusting in the preparation they have put in and seeking guidance, they often find that they are more capable than they feared—much like Gareth, who went on to be lauded by his professors after nearly skipping his own oral exams.

Ministry and Family Life

After graduating from Seminary in 1930, Gareth's faith was put to the test. He decided to "put out a fleece"—a biblical reference to asking for a sign—by stipulating that if He truly wanted him to be a regular preacher, a church would need to extend a formal call to him immediately. On July 1, the very first day ministerial candidates were eligible, he received a call from a congregation in Hills, Minnesota. This began a forty-year ministry during which he led six different churches.

Gareth's ministry was characterized by a unique balance of rigorous theological leadership and deep, hands-on devotion to his family. After the tragic loss of his first wife, Kathryn, in 1951, he was left as a widowed father of five. He later married Ada Timmer, a widow who also had five children. Together, they raised their family of ten with faith and resilience.

A Legacy of Love and Nature

His children recall him as a "miracle worker" who, through careful management and God’s blessing, ensured their large family was always provided for, despite dedicating a significant portion of his salary to Christian school tuition. Gareth was a man who embraced life with joy:

• Love of Nature: He was an avid outdoorsman, mountain climber, and camper who taught his children about the wonders of God through creation, identifying rocks, mountains, and animals with ease.

• Integrity and Humility: He was known for his support of his spouse, his deep affection for his children, and his gentle way with animals, including his dog, Laddie, and his cat, Scampi.

• Progressive Spirit: In an era where movies were often frowned upon in his circles, he used projectors to show educational films to his children and their friends, always seeking to teach them about the greatness of God.

Throughout his life, Gareth remained a man of humble service, deeply loved by his family and the congregations he shepherded. He remained a source of profound strength, known for his work ethic, his kindness, and his unwavering trust that the Lord would always provide for his family.

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11)

Modern-Day Example

Just as Gareth trusted that God would provide for his large family of ten children through prayer and diligent management, a modern-day family facing unexpected financial hardship might practice "stewardship" by creating a strict household budget, choosing to prioritize essential needs, and finding creative ways to provide healthy, homemade meals. Like Gareth, they trust that while their resources might feel limited, their faith and unity as a family will sustain them through the season of drought.

Grandpa K, memoir3

Grandpa K's Full Memoir Combined (not in parts) 

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We had spent about five years in Hills, when a call came from Bellflower, by means of the shortest telegram I ever received. I did not even know I was on trio when the depot agent called, "I have a telegram for you from Bellflower, Cali. and it reads, 'You are called.'"

And I soon was convinced, that although I feared to go to Bellflower, because of the difficult problems that existed, the church had split in the past and the group that remained was divided itself. I was convinced the telegram was correct, "I was called" by God to go to Bellflower and God saw fit to use us there from April 1935 to Oct. 1946. For us they were very busy and pleasant years, and we might have wished to remain there, but God had different plans, and we were directed to move to Holland, Mich to serve the Maple Ave. Chr. Ref. Church.

[Vertical text in left margin]: while in Bellflower it was my privilege to help bring brother Frank de Jong to our state as H.M.

 "During those years I was permitted to serve several years on the Board of Home Missions, and for a number of years was chairman of the Executive Comm. for Home missions.

For a number of years I served on the Back to God Hour board, and am presently serving my 3rd or 4th term on the Calvin College & Seminary Board of Trustees.

Six times I was elected to attend synod.

That is enough - God has been very good to us. Whatever blessings have come thru my ministry are the result of His grace. He used me and to Him belong all the credit and praise.

I think I can truthfully [say] that I have worked hard - most of my working day began at about 8:00 AM - and continued until late at night. However, my ministry has been so pleasant that I am sure I could never have been more happy in any other service.

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Which church we were to serve together from Oct. 1946 - April 15, 1951 when the Lord called my beloved wife, Kathryn to come home with Him. Then I was alone with my 5 children from April 15, 1951 to Dec. 16, 1952.

During that time I discovered another young woman who had a problem her own pastor could not solve. So I called on her and found a solution to her problem by marrying her, and that at the same time solved my problems and we have been happy ever since.

Together we continued in Maple Ave until 1954 when we were transferred to Edgerton, Minn. where I was installed in Sept. 1954 and remained there happy in our work until you called us to come over and help you in the spring of 1960 and I was installed here on June 26 of that year.

Page5  During three years I was permitted to serve several years on the Board of Home Missions, and for a number of years was chairman of the Executive Comm. for Home missions.

For a number of years I served on the Back to God Hour board, and am presently serving my 3rd or 4th term on the Calvin College & Seminary Board of Trustees.

Six times I was elected to attend synod.

That is enough - God has been very good to us. Whatever blessings have come thru my ministry are the result of His grace. He used me and to Him belong all the credit and praise.

I think I can truthfully [say] that I have worked hard - most of my working day began at about 8:00 AM - and continued until late at night. However, my ministry has been so pleasant that I am sure I could never have been more happy in any other service.

original handwritten below

Historical Overview: Christian Reformed Church in California

• Early Growth: The presence of the Christian Reformed Church in California had a slow start, with only six organized churches by 1935 (Redlands, Hanford, Los Angeles, Ripon, Bellflower, and Artesia).

• Missionary Work: Initially, home missionaries were assigned to specific areas where families had settled. In 1935, the Classis sought to change this to allow missionaries to be assigned anywhere in the denomination to better facilitate community evangelism.

• Expansion to Phoenix: In 1944, attention turned to Phoenix. To secure a 10-acre site for a future church, the narrator and Rev. De Jong personally borrowed $14,000 (equivalent to approximately $252,000 today) from individuals in Bellflower to purchase the land, holding the title until the Phoenix congregation could repay the loans.

• Administrative Changes: Over the years, the region saw administrative shifts, including the formation of Classis Rocky Mountain in 1955, the division of Classis California into Central California and California South in 1962, and the organization of Classis Red Mesa in 1982 for Indian churches.

The Founding of Bellflower Christian School

• The Calling: In 1935, the narrator received a call to the First Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower. Though initially hesitant, the narrator accepted with the express goal of establishing a Christian school.

• The Motivation: The school was founded on two primary mandates:

  1. Religious Dedication: To honor the teachings of Jesus Christ and Paul to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" and to do all things for the glory of God.

  2. Educational Philosophy: A direct response against the influence of John Dewey’s progressive educational philosophy, which the narrator characterized as godless.

• Growth and Perseverance: The first unit of four classrooms was dedicated in the fall of 1935. Despite the financial burden and the inherent difficulties mentioned in the narrative, the school grew, and by its 50th anniversary, it was recognized as one of the best private high schools in the country. The account credits this success to God’s continued blessings and financial provision.

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4)

Modern-Day Example: Just as the pioneers in this account had to trust God's provision when they didn't have the $14,000 to buy the church land, consider a modern-day family facing a sudden job loss. Instead of succumbing to worry about how they will pay their mortgage, they choose to "seek first the Kingdom of God" by continuing to tithe and serving in their local ministry, trusting that He will provide their daily needs just as He promised in Matthew 6:33.

a few extra randoms

more from Grandpa K: memoir2

 Grandpa K's Full Memoir Combined (not in parts) 

🌲 Early Life & The Family Farm

• Origins of Twin Oakes: The author's grandfather and father settled on 80 acres of mostly forested land in the late 19th century. The farm, later named "Twin Oakes" after two specific oak trees left standing near the road, was located in a rural area (likely Wisconsin, based on later notes of returning home to Randolph, WI).

• Home Life: The family lived a rugged, self-sufficient lifestyle. They initially used kerosene lanterns and woodstoves for heat and cooking. Around the time the author was ten years old, his father rigged up a "homemade" electricity system using a battery and a gasoline-driven generator.

• Farm Work & Recreation: Daily life involved milking around 70 cows and growing crops like cabbage. Because they started work early, they finished early enough to enjoy hunting and fishing. The author fondly recalls rabbit hunting, though one winter day ended in deep sadness when his beloved dog disappeared in a snowy field.

🎓 Education & Formative Hurdles

• Grammar School: The author attended a Christian school, walking over a mile even in the dead of winter. He became the very first student to graduate from the 8th grade at his local Christian school in 1918.

• Calvin Preparatory & The Flu Epidemic: Urged by his pastor, the Rev. William Bajema, his parents allowed him to leave home at age 15 to attend Calvin in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During his first year (1918), he witnessed the horrors of the Spanish Flu epidemic when his close walk-to-school companion suddenly died. He also vividly recalls rushing out of school to celebrate the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.

• A Change of Scenery: During his second year at Calvin, a severe bout of illness caused a misunderstanding between his father and the school's president. Believing the president had lied about visiting his sick son, his father pulled him out of Calvin and sent him to Grundy College in Iowa, where he stayed for six years. The author eventually returned to Calvin College, graduating in 1928.

⛪ Early Preaching & Seminary Adventures

• The First Sermon (Windsor/Chatham, 1928): During his second year at Calvin Seminary, the author volunteered for an unwanted assignment to deliver two Dutch sermons in Windsor, Ontario. The trip included a comical mishap where a careless passenger threw a cigarette out of a bus window, burning holes through the author's brand-new preacher's hat. Upon arrival, a scheduling mix-up sent him to Chatham, Ontario, where he nervously preached in a hall. He was initially shocked to see a man in a tuxedo and tall hat, only to learn it was a local deacon wearing his only suit—his wedding attire.

• A Grueling Summer in Blackwell (1929): The following summer, he was assigned to serve a group of Dutch immigrants in Blackwell, Ontario. He stayed with a poor family in a tiny four-room shack, navigated a massive fly infestation, taught the homeowner farm work, and walked up to 10 miles for basic necessities. Despite losing weight until he was "skin and bones," he successfully learned to preach in Dutch and survived a scary encounter where a bootlegger accused him of signaling the police.

💨 The Midwestern Drought (1933)

• While pastoring in the Midwest, the author witnessed the devastating Dust Bowl. He vividly describes "The Darkness of November" (November 11, 1933), when a severe dust storm turned noon into pitch blackness. Despite zero visibility, he brought a kerosene lamp to church and conducted a service for the few dedicated parishioners who couldn't afford to travel back home.

🍊 Moving to Bellflower, California (1935)

• The Call: In January 1935, while expecting a baby with his wife Kathryn, the author received a surprise telegram informing him he had been "called" by the First Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower, California. Despite receiving warning letters that the church was in "hopeless" condition due to previous pastoral difficulties, his boyhood pastor encouraged him to go.

• The Journey: Their son Jimmie was born on March 29, and by April, they were on their way west. Unable to afford a $700 new Ford on his own, the Bellflower church loaned him the remaining $300 (which they later converted into a gift). After a cautious road trip with a newborn, they arrived in California in May 1935. A classmate from school, Dr. Jack Hoekzema, kept a promise and moved out to Bellflower to set up his medical practice right alongside them.

🪖 WWII Blackouts & Homefront Reality (1942)

• Living in Southern California during World War II brought the war directly to their doorstep. The author recalls anti-aircraft searchlights, sirens, and thousands of rounds being fired at suspected enemy aircraft overhead, as well as a Japanese submarine firing at an oil well near Santa Barbara.

• Worship in the Dark: During a packed Sunday communion service, an air-raid siren went off, and the church custodian cut the main power switch. In total darkness, the author calmly led the congregation in continuous prayer, gave his sermon from memory, and led the church in powerful acapella renditions of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds." Ever practical, he made sure the offering was collected in the dark before dismissing the congregation.

🏔️ A Lifelong Passion for the Mountains

• Growing up in a flat landscape where the highest point was a 100-foot hill, the author's first concept of mountains came from Bible stories. His dream of seeing real mountains came true during his 1935 drive to California, where he fell in love with Zion National Park and the Great White Throne.

• Over the decades, he became an avid hiker and camper, exploring the High Sierras with his two boys, Sherwood and Jim. He successfully climbed major peaks well above 10,000 feet, including Mt. San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), Mt. San Gorgonio (Greyback), and Alta Peak in Sequoia. Though he never quite made it to the top of the 15,000-foot Mt. Whitney due to deep snow and timing, his son Bruce later climbed it on his behalf.

• He concludes his recollections with a deep appreciation for Yosemite (visiting it every single month one year) and the mountains of the American West, sharing John Muir's sentiment that they are the "grandest of all."

Early Childhood & Farm Life on "Twin Oakes"

Gareth grew up on a farm called "Twin Oakes." His early years were shaped by the quiet rhythms of nature, livestock, and hard farm work.

• 1908 (Age 5): A massive community "barn raising" party took place to replace an old, poor barn structure that was subsequently burned down to destroy a black and white rat infestation.

• Leisure & Family: Favorite childhood pastimes included fishing and swimming in the local creek on the "50," Fox Lake, or Lake Emily. Gareth notes that while his father and brother Bill (13 months his junior) were excellent, natural farmers who could handle the horses easily, Gareth struggled with farming tasks like keeping the horses straight.

• Language Barriers & Schooling: Before a local Christian school was established, Gareth attended Blankae School (about a mile north). Because his first and only language at the time was Fries, his teacher could not understand him. Near this school, he frequently visited the grave of a Civil War soldier in a small Welsh church cemetery.

Community Development & Modern Advancements

Gareth's father was a proactive community member and successful farmer who expanded his holdings to include a farm west of Twin Oakes (cleared with the help of relatives from Holland) and "Four Leaf Clover Farm," which Gareth named.

• The Road & Church (circa 1909): When Gareth was around 6 years old, his father and several other men founded the East Friesland Christian Reformed Church and Christian School. To solve the lack of a direct route, his father petitioned the road commission to build "KOK ROAD." One stubborn local farmer only agreed to let his fences be cut for the road after being gifted some cigars.

• Technology & Communication: The family got their first telephone when Gareth was about 7 or 8. Around this same time, the first train came through Friesland, providing a great attraction for the local children.

• 1914: His father bought the area's first car—a 1914 4-door Ford Touring Sedan—allowing for family trips to Portage and the Dells. The family also acquired a Fordson tractor, and Gareth's father took his very first airplane ride, famously arranging a phone call to his wife right as he flew over the family farm.

Family Tragedies & Leaving the Farm

Life on Twin Oakes also brought immense grief to the Kok family through the sudden losses of Gareth's younger siblings:

• The Loss of Annie: While Gareth, his father, and his brother Bill were milking in the barn, their hired girl rushed out to deliver terrible news. Their baby sister, Annie, had suddenly died. She had fallen ill that morning, and after being administered medicine prescribed by the doctor, she passed away instantly. Believing the medicine was actually poison, his mother threw it into the stove.

• The Loss of Andrew (Andy): One evening while feeding cows, Gareth and his brother Andy talked about death, with Andy expressing that he didn't want to die. Several months later, Andy fell severely ill. Because the doctor had to travel by horse and buggy from the north after dark, medical help arrived too late. Andy passed away about two weeks later while singing "Jesus loves me."

• 1918 (Age 15): Realizing his true passion lay in academics rather than farming, Gareth accepted his parents' and siblings' support to leave the farm at age 15 to attend Calvin (Calvin College/Seminary). He regularly returned to work on the farm during his summer breaks.

Ministry, Bachelorhood, & Romance (1930–1965)

The second half of the memoirs shifts to Gareth's early career in the ministry, focusing heavily on his bachelorhood and how he met his wife.

• The "Handicap" of Bachelorhood: Entering the ministry as an unmarried man in the 1930s was highly discouraged by church consistories. During one vacancy preaching assignment, a church elder refused to even show Gareth the parsonage, stating flatly that they did not want a single minister.

• Moving to Hills, Minnesota: Ironically, Gareth received his first official call from a church in Hills, Minnesota, whose previous minister had also been single. Gareth arrived driving an old Essex coupe with a rumble seat. As a young eligible bachelor, he jokingly recalls being invited to dinner by every family with a daughter over 16, resulting in many young women suddenly inventing "problems" to seek the minister's advice.

• Meeting His Wife: The matchmaking attempts ended when a new family joined the church. Gareth spotted their daughter from the pulpit and was instantly smitten. It took him three months to find a proper excuse to approach her, finally doing so just two days before she was scheduled to leave for a teaching position in North Dakota.

• Courtship & Marriage: During the Great Depression, the couple sustained a long-distance relationship entirely through letters, jokingly keeping the "U.S. postal department on its feet." They were married the following summer.

• Family Legacy: Gareth credits God for bringing his wife into his life, calling her a true "help-meet." The couple was blessed with five children. His wife eventually passed away prior to these remarks, which Gareth delivered in Hanford, California, reflecting on the 35-year window span of 1930 to 1965.