Quiet and humble, Carroll Keegstra was very dedicated to his congregations and to his ministry as chaplain with the State of Michigan Department of Corrections. He had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. Keegstra died May 4 in Spring Hill, Fla.
Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., Keegstra graduated from Calvin College (now University) and then from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1959. He went on to complete a master’s degree in Religious History at the University of Chicago in 1962. He was ordained into ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in 1963 and became pastor of Kenosha (Wisc.) CRC.
Keegstra then served West Park CRC, Cleveland, Ohio; Franklin Lakes (N.J.) CRC; and Charlotte (Mich.) CRC. He directed the Michigan Ecumenical Forum (now dissolved) for a year. He went on to serve the CRC as a chaplain employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections at Riverside Psychiatric Center in Ionia, Mich., and at Huron Valley Center, Ypsilanti, Mich. He retired in 2002.
In his retirement Keegstra lived in Tucson, Ariz., and Spring Hill, Fla. He and his wife liked to hike in Arizona, enjoyed music, and traveled extensively, including many cruises. They visited all the continents except Antarctica. Family was always important, and even though their children were scattered across the country, they tried to get together as much as possible.
Keegstra is survived by Patricia, his wife of 63 years, and by four children, their spouses, and three grandchildren.
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.
