In Memoriam: Rev. John Pasma

John Pasma is remembered as a thoughtful, steady, calm, compassionate and generous man who was genuinely interested in the lives, stories and work of others. Despite developing Parkinson’s disease later in life and, more recently, esophageal cancer, John remained a strong and stoic figure to the end, trusting in God and ever hopeful of recovering to have more time with family. John, 73, died Nov. 22, 2023.

John completed elementary and high school in London, Ont., attended Trinity Christian College in Chicago, Ill., and then taught history at London (Ont.) District Christian Secondary School. In 1985, he moved with his wife and four children to Grand Rapids, Mich., to study at Calvin Theological Seminary. After ordination in 1988, John served Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church (now Faith Fellowship) in Niagara Falls, Ont., and then Covenant CRC in Edmonton, Alta. He retired in 2016. John was active on denominational and classical committees, including serving as a Regional Pastor and as a long-time member of the Healthy Church Taskforce in Classis Alberta North.

John enjoyed tinkering in the garage with his Volkswagens, going for long walks with his wife, cycling, working in his study, listening to CBC radio, driving across Canada, making jam, watching hockey with his sons, and playing with his grandchildren. He regularly donated blood. One of his treasured hobbies included collecting, organizing, and digitizing old family photos going back generations and creating an outline of his family tree.

John is survived by Grace, his wife of 50 years; four children and their spouses; and 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by two stillborn grandchildren. John’s last act of kindness was donating his brain and spinal cord for Parkinson’s research.