Gerard Borst

​

Gerry Borst of Grand Rapids, Michigan, peacefully passed from the arms of his loving wife of 69 years to the eternal arms of his Lord, Jesus Christ on October 10, 2020. He was 93 years old. 

Gerry was born the second son and child to Nicholas B. and Tena Borst the same year that Charles Lindbergh piloted the Spirit of St. Louis to the first airplane crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs. He grew up playing stickball outside the family home on Griggs Street, SW, with neighborhood kids who became life-long friends. As a young man, Gerry delivered milk for Beverly Park Dairy early in the morning before school classes began. In the afternoons he worked in a neighborhood butcher shop. He enjoyed telling stories about this post-depression, pre-war period of his life, passing on to his children the lessons he had learned working at an early age and the need for frugality. 

Gerry graduated from Southwest Christian School and, at age 17, enlisted in the United States Navy. Several days before he was due to ship out to Guam as a Materiel Stores Manager, World War II concluded. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in December 1946. With the help of the GI Bill, he graduated from the Walton School of Commerce in Chicago, Illinois in June 1948 with a Professional Degree in Accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant. After meeting on a blind date in Chicago, Gerry married Trudy Brouwer of Clara City, MN. A loving union that continued for 69 years. They relocated back to Grand Rapids when he took a job as an auditor with Seidman and Seidman.

In 1960, Gerry and his family relocated for several years to Riverside, California, where he worked as a Certified Public Accountant with Ross, Landis and Pauw. That same year, Gerry and Trudy were among the founding members of Riverside Christian Reformed Church, now known as Hope Community Christian Reformed Church. 

That initial experience in church formation led to a 25-year period of service when, in 1965, Gerry and his family returned to Grand Rapids for his “dream job”, to work with the recently formed Board of Home Missions program of the Christian Reformed Church. During that time the Board was instrumental in founding many new mission churches across the US and Canada. He dedicated his career to the Christian Reformed Church, its administration and its outreach. His love for God and belief in service to others was core in his life. In his personal bible he kept a hand-written note to himself which read simply, “Goal: To lead a life worthy of the Lord.”

 In retirement, Gerry and Trudy spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona avoiding the cold weather in Michigan. In their community there, he enjoyed golfing, participating in the choir programs, and teaching stained glass art to the other residents. He was a lover of music, photography, travel and spending time with family and friends. He and Trudy spent his final years living in southern California, near his daughter’s family, benefitting from their love and attention. 

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Herbert and Nicholas Borst, and nephew Richard Borst. He is survived by his sister Marjorie; children Steve Borst and Jennifer Logan of Salt Lake City, UT; Susan Borst and Mark Zuiderveen of La Crescenta, CA; Scott and Jayne Borst of Marietta, GA; and Mike and Kim Borst of Glendale, WI. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 A private family service was held in La Crescenta, CA on October 14. Memorial gifts in Gerry’s name can be given to Resonate Global Mission (a combination of the former CRC Boards of Home and Foreign Missions) at resonateglobalmission.org, or to Solheim Senior Community at solheimsenior.org.