A man of deep faith, intensity, and passion, Martin Geleynse dedicated his life to testifying to the love and faithfulness of God, his Father. As a pastor, an identity he embraced even in the latter years of his life, he loved to preach and teach. Ministry was his calling. As one grandchild put it, “He had this ease and comfort up there in the pulpit. You knew, just watching him, that it was where he loved to be.” Geleynse, 96, died Oct. 1 at Huronview Home for the Aged in Clinton, Ont.
Born in Barneveld, The Netherlands, one of 11 children, Geleynse graduated from the Free University of Amsterdam, was called to the ministry, and served two congregations in the Netherlands before immigrating to Canada in 1960. Following ordination in the Christian Reformed Church in 1960, he pastored Medicine Hat (Alta.) CRC and Maranatha CRC in St. Catharines, Ont., before attending Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich., and obtaining his Master of Theology degree. Following his studies, he spent a year in the Field Education office at Calvin Seminary before being called to First CRC in Montreal, Que. French became a new full-time language for him as he subsequently took on the roles of coordinator and dean of the Farel Institute of Reformed Theology in Quebec City from 1980-1986. His final congregation was Stratford (Ont.) CRC. He retired in 1990.
Besides theology, Geleynse loved music, politics, and science. He was a voracious reader and had an insatiable sweet tooth.
Predeceased by Ada, his wife of 62 years, two daughters and a son-in-law, Geleynse is survived by seven children and their spouses, 37 grandchildren, and 46 great-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.
