John Hanover Elenbaas, age 89, of Helena, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2014. John was born in Lynden, Washington on February 9, 1925 to Herman and Ruby Elenbaas.
John was drafted into the Army, serving from1943 to 1946 in the Radio Intelligence Platoon and participating in the Pacific Theater, including Okinawa and occupation forces in Seoul, Korea and Kyoto, Japan.
John met Maybelle Elenbaas at Calvin College, in Grand Rapids Michigan, while they were both in the Back to God Hour Choir. They were married on June 3, 1949.
John graduated from Calvin College and Seminary in 1952 and was the pastor of the Christian Reformed Churches in Holland Center, South Dakota from 1952 to 1955, Mountain Lake, Minnesota from 1955 to 1960, Doon, Iowa from 1960 to 1966, Wellsburg, Iowa 1966 to 1983, Conrad, Montana from 1983 to 1987, and finally retiring in Bozeman, Montana in 1987. This was not the end of his ministry; he continued to preach at several Bozeman and Manhattan area churches on a substitute basis, including interim pastor for Gallatin Gateway CRC. After moving to Hunter’s Pointe in Helena in 2006, he conducted Bible studies, filled in for Sunday afternoon preaching and would visit the sick and grieving. Additionally, for many years, he was an instructor for Crossroad Bible institute, a one-to-one long-term program helping incarcerated persons grow in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
Outside of the church, John’s favorite past times included hiking and mountain climbing, especially the mountains of Northwest Washington, Glacier National Park and areas around Bozeman, Montana. He also spent a lot of time gardening, singing and tinkering around.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Ruby Elenbaas; brother, John James; sister Marian Scholten (Bill).
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Maybelle Elenbaas; daughters, Irene (David) DeGroot of Tucson, Arizona, Kathryn (Evan) Baas of Corsica, South Dakota; sons Herman (Sheila) Elenbaas of Billings, Montana, David (Twila) Elenbaas of Montana City, Montana, and Daniel (Joanne) Elenbaas of Helena, Montana; sister, Winifred Bulthuis of Lynden, Washington; 19 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends beginning at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2014. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the Green Meadow Christian Reformed Church, 4790 Green Meadow Drive Helena, Montana 59602. A burial rite with military honors will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Harrison, Montana, a reception will be held at the church immediately following the burial rite. Memorials in John’s name are suggested to Crossroad Bible Institute, PO Box 900, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0900 (www.crossroadbible.org) or Mission India, PO Box 141312 Grand Rapids, MI 49514-1312 (www.missionindia.org).
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday February 22, 2014
Green Meadow Christian Reform Church
4790 Green Meadow Drive
Helena, Montana 59602
Graveside Service
Following the Funeral Mass
Saturday February 22, 2014
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636
Reception
Following the graveside service
Saturday February 22, 2014
Green Meadow Reform Church
4790 Green Meadow Drive
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday February 22, 2014
Green Meadow Christian Reform Church
4790 Green Meadow Drive
Helena, Montana 59602
Graveside Service
Following the Funeral Mass
Saturday February 22, 2014
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636
Reception
Following the graveside service
Saturday February 22, 2014
Green Meadow Reform Church
4790 Green Meadow Drive
Helena, Montana 59602
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Jim and Eileen Howerzyl says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I remember Uncle John as a most gentle and patient man who always kept in touch with my folks thru the many years. I loved reading his very faithful updates.
Blessings to all of the family.
Herm Elenbaas says
Well, we said goodbye to my dad, John H. Elenbaas, this morning at the age of 89. He passed away quietly after a long battle with congestive heart failure, while residing at the Touchmark memory care in Helena. Services will be Saturday at Green Meadow Christian Reformed Church. Dad served as a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church denomination for 37 years with churches in Holland Center, South Dakota, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, Doon, Iowa, Wellsburg, Iowa and Conrad, Mt. His longest pastorate was in Wellsburg where he served for 17 years and had all 5 of his children graduate from High School. He married his wife, Maybelle, in 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan while both were attending Calvin College. They met while singing in the Back To God Hour Radio Choir. He served in World War II on Okinawa and was part of the occupation force that moved into Japan at the end of the war. On the way back to the US after the war he spent several weeks on Oahu where at a Military chapel service, he felt a clear call from God to enter the ministry and made a commitment. Hailing from Northwest Washington and growing up near the Cascade Mountains, he loved to hike and spent his retirement years with Mom in the Gallatin Valley where whenever possible and with whomever possible he rekindled his passion for hiking. He was a kind and gentle man who loved his wife to the end and was loved and admired and blessed by his 5 children, spouses and many grandchildren. In spite of increasing frailty toward the end of his life, his faith in God was always close to the surface, and his love for his beloved wife of 63 years, Maybelle, was as warm and as fresh as the day they fell in love. He passed on his love of radio to his son Herm, who remembers his listening to Christian radio stations from Sioux Falls and Waterloo on his big console radio in his study. Rest in peace Dad. Enjoy your much anticipated time with the Savior you served so faithfully and in time we who remain will be reunited for eternity.
Marty Veltkamp says
John and Maybelle were a beloved part of Bozeman CRC for years. We are all sorry to see him go, but know he is well now. Our prayers go out to the family and especially to Maybelle.
Jack and Sue Bishop says
Our family has many great memories of hiking with Uncle John when he would come to Western Washington. Ellen and I remember that we were a bit astonished and overwhelmed at his fast pace and lengthy hikes, We remember feeling grateful we survived! I think only our brother Doug could keep pace with him. Another family delight is the trip our younger brother Peter took with our mom so that she could visit with Uncle John and Aunt Maybelle in their retirement center. A precious memory with it being the last time they saw each other. Our sympathy to the family in the loss of your faithful and Godly father and grandfather. Sue
Warren Anderson,Holland, Iowa 50642 says
Our thought and prayers are with you, and your family. I have many fond memories with pastor John. I spent many years with Pastor John in consistory at the 2nd Christian Reformed Church in Wellsburg, Iowa. We were in Calvin Collage at the same time. Pastor John called me and tolled me to apply as an instructor at the Crossroad Bible Institute in Grand Rapids MI, and I am still an Instructor. I had your boys in Sunday school class. Our sympathy to the family. Warren & Kathy Anderson
Greg Vandenacre, Conrad,Mt says
I was growing up as a teenager in Conrad while John served here. I still remember what a kind man he was. He was extremely loving and caring and always concerned with how our walk with God was going. I can still remember him encouraging me to make profession of faith in his kind gentle way. I did not do it immediately but his nudge was not forgotten. His faithfulness to the word was evident and will not be forgotten. Our prayers will be with the family daily as you walk through a difficult time.