Garrit Bieze

BIEZE - Rev. Gerrit (Gary) A., age 83, died on Sunday, December 15, 2019, after a brief struggle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry G. Bieze, his mother, Lillian E. Immonen Bieze, and his sister-in-law Victoria Rasbid Bieze. He is survived by his brother Duane of Norwood, MO, and his sister Linda of Grand Rapids, MI. Gary was born in Chicago, IL, and was a graduate of Lane Technical High School. Called to Christian ministry, he graduated from Calvin College and from Calvin Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister of the Word and sacraments in the Christian Reformed Church. Gerrit, who was fluent in Dutch, served Christian Reformed congregations in Alliston, ON, Taber, AB, and Athens, ON. In 2007, he moved to Grand Rapids to live with his sister. Gerrit was a historian as well as a minister. In 1989, he wrote a history of the first 125 years of the Netherlands Reformed congregation in South Holland, IL, entitled The Remnant Remains: The True Dutch Reformed Church of South Holland, Illinois. He also contributed articles about the history of the Chicago-area Dutch to the journal Origins. A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Friday, December 20, 2019 at Stegenga Funeral Chapel - Wyoming. The family will greet relatives and friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Thursday at the funeral chapel and 1 hour prior to the service on Friday. Memorials may be given to Faith Hospice or the American Cancer Society. To share a photo, memory and sign the online guestbook please visit www.stegengafuneralchapel.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Garrit Gary Bieze please visit our Sympathy Store.