Rev. Sidney Newhouse

April 13, 1922 – May 9, 2008

Rev. Sidney Newhouse, 86, World War II veteran, dedicated Christian minister, effective teacher of the young, friend of seekers, and lover of good music, passed away on May 9 following a struggle with heart problems.

When still a young boy, Newhouse moved with his parents from Redlands, Calif., to Drenthe, Mich., where he attended grade school. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II as a radio specialist in the 739th Medium Tank Battalion.

Upon his return to the US in l946, he married Gladys Abel. He subsequently completed the 18-month VA high school certification at Hope College, then enrolled at Calvin College, from which he graduated in 1951. Graduation from Calvin Theological Seminary followed in 1954.

The young couple accepted a call from the Good Shepherd CRC of Flint, Mich., in 1954. Subsequently they served the following CRC congregations: Highland, Mich., 1958; New Era, Mich., 1962; Calvary, Edina, Minn., 1968; First, Allendale, Mich., 1973.

Newhouse retired in 1987. During his retirement he served the West Leonard CRC of Grand Rapids as its pastor of calling till 2006.

Newhouse is remembered for his dedicated faithfulness as a pastor of the congregations he served. He loved his people. The young people remember him for his personal interest in their lives; he visited with every teenager every year. But he cared equally well for the elderly.

All the churches he served witnessed healthy membership growth. The denomination profited from his involvement in the production of its educational materials. His children think of him as being a loving father.

Newhouse is survived by his wife, Gladys, and their children: David and Mary Newhouse, Meredith and Charles Brace, Carol and Robert Lenger, Robert Newhouse and Tami Courter, Gloria Newhouse Rozema, Valerie and JR Covell, 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.