A Short Book

Hi Everyone,

A short book written with and about Dad is now available for download through Dropbox. The book is also available for the kindle and other electronic devices through Amazon, though Amazon charges a small fee for the use of their service.

Please feel free to download and distribute if you want to.

Sincerely,

Pete

Memorial Service Audio File Download and Last Post for a While

Hi Everyone,

For those who would like to download the audio stream of the service, a link to the mp3 file can be found below:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16354719/Pastor%20Bill%27s%20memorial.mp3

A link to the powerpoint presentation is also available below:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16354719/Eulogy%20Slideshow%20Extended.pptx

We want to thank everyone again so much for their support, thoughts, and prayers through this past month. It means so much to us. Thanks especially to those who helped us with Dad's funeral. We will never forget your kindness through this difficult time.

This may be our last post for a while as we are going to Edmonton to say goodbye to Alice Larsen, our Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, and friend, who passed away Tuesday, February 8th. We are comforted to know that she is with the Lord also.

All our best,

The Versteeg Family

Streaming Audio of the Memorial Service

For those unable to attend the memorial service, Robert Sytsma has kindly offered to setup live streaming audio which should begin shortly before 2:00pm PST on Thursday, February 3rd.

The link to the audio stream can be found below:
http://licrc.dyndns.org:88/broadwave.m3u?src=1&rate=1

There will be an accompanying PowerPoint slide show which will also become available online shortly before the service.

The Versteeg Family

William Versteeg (Pastor Bill)

Bill was born on the 20^th of October 1955 in Edmonton, Alberta, and passed away in the wee hours of the 28^th of January 2011 in Langley, British Columbia. Bill struggled for many months with a feeling of being unwell before discovering that he had an aggressive form of bile duct cancer on December 23, 2010. Five short weeks later, he is gone from our lives, but forever in our hearts and memories.

Bill will be lovingly remembers as a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor, student, teacher, missionary, musician, and friend. He is survived by his cherished wife, Judy, his sons Peter (Patricia), Benjamin and Michael, his daughter Naomi (Sean), his grandson and namesake Aiden William, his brothers and sisters, Christine, Albert (Trudi), Jean (John), Bertha (Cor), Gerda (Tom), Harry (Sylvia), Mary, Evelyn (Carl), nieces, nephews, in-laws Alice, Lois, Shirley, friends too numerous to mention,  his ‘sweetheart’ Meascha and his ‘handsome boy’ Duke (the dogs).

Bill grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, attending West Edmonton Christian School. Following highschool, Bill received a degree in Electronic Engineering at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). In 1978 Bill followed a new direction in life, attending Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, where he completed a pre-seminary program, majoring in philosophy. Bill continued his studies to become a pastor by attending Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids Michigan, graduating in 1985. In 2005, Bill began the Doctorate of Ministry program at Trinity Western University. His thesis on faith and the imagination is still a work in progress.

Bill ministered to God’s people in Maranatha Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Belleville, Ontario as a youth pastor;  Bethel CRC in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Bethlehem CRC in Thunder Bay, Ontario; and at Langley Immanuel CRC in Langley, British Columbia. Over 25 years, Bill faithfully served his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, whom he always wanted to receive the honor and glory. Bill’s ministry extended far outside of the church walls as well. He was a part of numerous missionary trips to Mexico (outreach, house and church building) and Liberia (Lifewater, Extreme Clergy documentary).

In his ministry, Bill had a gift for listening to others, and responding with short words of wisdom and comfort. He loved learning and doing research for his sermons and children’s stories which were always meant to reveal God’s will and love for his people.  Bill’s website is a virtual library of sermons that cover the whole Bible. 

Bill thoroughly enjoyed playing guitar, snorkeling, long distance biking, and walking the dog during which time he would pray. He also kept up with the latest in electronics, and computer and trends. His family will never forget his wit, his contagious asthmatic laugh, his sincere smile, and the way we knew he meant it every time he said “I love you”.  He was a gentle and loving man and his family will be forever grateful for the time they had with him. He will best be remembered by all for his patience, curiosity, inquisitive nature, abounding love, and unyielding faith. May God be praised in Bill’s life and afterwards.

To remember, say goodbye, and praise God for our wonderful Bill:

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 2^nd at Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church 21713-50 th Avenue, Langley, BC V3A 3T2 from 7:00-9:00 PM

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 3^rd at Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church 21713-50th Avenue, Langley, BC V3A 3T2 at 2:00 PM

Please note that while every accommodation is being made, seating and parking may be limited for these services. We expect to broadcast the memorial service online, and more details will be made regarding this shortly.

In place of flowers, please make donations to Lifewater Canada. (http://www.lifewater.ca). Lifewater Canada is a group of volunteers that trains, equips, and supports the rural poor in Haiti & Africa to drill wells and build washrooms, and Bill has been involved in this organization for many years. A cheque can also be sent directly to Lifewater through the mailing address below:

Lifewater
307 Euclid Ave, Suite 194
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6G6

- The Versteegs -

Saying Goodbye

To remember, say goodbye, and praise God for our wonderful Bill

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 2nd
at Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church
21713-50 th Avenue, Langley, BC  V3A 3T2
from 7:00-9:00 PM

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 3rd
at Langley Immanuel Christian Reformed Church
21713-50th Avenue, Langley, BC  V3A 3T2
2:00 PM

In place of flowers, please make donations to Lifewater Canada. Lifewater Canada is a group of volunteers that trains, equips, and supports the rural poor in Haiti & Africa to drill wells and build washrooms, in which Bill has been involved.
           -  http://www.lifewater.ca
           -  Or send a cheque to:
                        Lifewater
                        307 Euclid Ave, Suite 194
                        Thunder Bay, ON
                        P7E 6G6

- The Versteegs -

Gone Home

Last night, shortly after 3:00 AM, Bill found his way through the valley where he no longer lingers under the shadow of death. We are so very thankful that  the Lord heard the cries of his heart to take him HOME.

                     As Bill often said, "Heaven is a wonderful place!"

                                                                         With love,
                                                                                      The Versteeg Family

Five Weeks Ago....

It seems like such a short time has passed, but it has already been five weeks since dad received a confirmed diagnosis of stage 4 bile duct cancer. In more recent weeks he has found himself "stuck, lingering in the valley" as he describes it. Today it seems he was able to make a few strides through that valley. He suffered today, with more pain that I would have believed a person could endure had I not been there to hear his prayers and cries for help. God has answered dads prayer - that pain not change his character. Through his pain, he continued to pray, and showed a strength beyond my understanding. The nurses and doctor were amazing at working to get his pain under control again, but in doing so, dad fell into a deep sleep, where he looks to be peaceful and comfortable. We do not expect that he will be waking up anymore after today, and so much is being done by the staff at Maple Hill Hospice to make sure he remains comfortable as his walk through the valley comes to an end.

- Naomi -