A humble man with a servant’s heart, Carl Gerhard Kromminga was a faithful pastor and educator with an encyclopedic mind and a great sense of humor. He sought to imitate Christ in all he did, welcoming strangers and ready to walk the extra mile for others. He died June 25 at age 96.
Like his father, Carl answered God’s call to ministry. After graduation from Calvin College (now University) and Seminary, he was ordained in 1948 and pastored Lodi (N.J.) Christian Reformed Church, then Harderwyk Ministries in Holland, Mich. In 1953 he was appointed professor of practical theology at Calvin Seminary, becoming, at age 29, the youngest professor in the seminary’s history. He later received his doctorate from the Free University in Amsterdam. Carl retired from the seminary in 1990. He also served on several denominational boards and committees.
His children remember home as a haven where many good things abounded: books, music, discussions, neighbors, friends, and food. He loved to sing and read often to his children, especially on Sunday afternoons and from books by Mark Twain. “Dad was civic-minded,” said one of his children. “He was grateful for the blessings of our beloved land. He joined the Michigan Civil Defense and never missed a chance to vote.”
During retirement Carl served in various capacities at the International Theological Seminary in West Covina, Calif. In his final years he led a Bible study at the Holland Home in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he was a resident.
Carl is survived by seven children, 22 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by Margaret, his wife of 38 years, and by Joan, his wife of 26 years.
About the Author
A former nurse and chaplain, Janet Greidanus is a freelance news correspondent and long-time writer of the In Memoriam column for The Banner.
