IN MEMORIAM: Rev. Bastiaan Nederlof

November 5, 1917 – February 19, 2010

Rev. Bastiaan Nederlof, 92, Renaissance man, theological scholar and writer, denominational leader, accomplished linguist, and pastor at heart, passed away suddenly but peacefully.

Nederlof was born on Nov. 5, 1917, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where he attended grade school. A singularly gifted student, he graduated from high school at age 15 and enrolled at the University of Leiden to study physics and astronomy.

The desire to serve his Lord as a pastor never left his heart, so he transferred to the seminary of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk in Apeldoorn.

In 1943, he graduated, married Roely Velema, and accepted a call to the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk of Eindhoven. Theirs was a team ministry in the best sense of the word.

In l948 they moved to the church of Dokkum, Friesland, where Nederlof quickly learned the Friesian language.

In 1953 they emigrated to Canada to serve the Houston (British Columbia) Christian Reformed Church. Five CRC congregations profited from the ministry of this competent pastor: Third CRC, Edmonton, Alberta; Rehoboth CRC, Bellflower, Calif.; First CRC, Vancouver, British Columbia; Immanuel CRC, Hamilton, Ontario; and First CRC, Victoria, British Columbia. Rev. Nederlof retired in 1986.

Nederlof was an erudite but unaffected pastor, determined and focused in all he did. To his colleagues he was an encourager and an advisor. The congregations he served remember him foremost for his outstanding preaching aided by his profound biblical knowledge, love for people, and genuine spirituality. Though Nederlof was a generalist, he was considered an expert in every area of his profession. He loved literature and music.

Christian schools and regional churches profited from his devoted services, as did the denomination at large. He was a frequent delegate to synod and served Synod 1977 as its president. Nederlof contributed greatly to such significant synodical statements as Church and the Film Arts and to the Contemporary Testimony “Our World Belongs to God.”

Nederlof is survived by his wife, Roely, and their children: Nancy and Bob Marando, Elsy and Rich TerMaat, Rick Nederlof, and Theo and Debbie Nederlof; as well as nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.