Gold Star Deaths
of Christian Reformed Church Members in North America
1941-1973
compiled by Susan Potter and Richard H. Harms, 2001
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These data come from a lists compiled by the Young Calvinist and placed in Heritage Hall, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The goal of these lists was to include the deaths of all church members in military services. The data are not complete. If you have additional (or corrected) information or additional entries email it to us and we will add it to future versions of this page.
Note: For the sake of consistency, we have use 'United States Air Force' for the entire war period, rather than 'United States Army Air Corps.' This list is in five parts, surnames beginning A-D, E-K, L-R, S-U and V-Y.
Sall, Roger Allen - Sp/5 United States Army
Birth: 08/26/1951.
Entered service: 03/08/1971
Death: 01/30/1973, Blendon Township, MI; place of
burial: Allendale, MI
Parents: Sall, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey
Church: Second Allendale, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Apr 1973, p. 22
Santjer, Ben - Cpl United States Army
Birth: 12/15/1919.
Entered service:
Death: 01/06/1944, Italy; place of burial: Italy
Parents: Santjer, John and Kate (Konken)
Church: Bejou, MN Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Apr 1944, p. 22
Schaaf, Fred - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 08/25/1916.
Entered service: 06/11/1942
Death: 11/16/1942, El Paso, TX; place of burial:
Vesper, WI
Parents: Schaaf, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: First Englewood, Chicago, IL Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1945, p. 16
Schaap, Marion J. - QM 1/c United States
Navy
Entered service:
08/13/1942
Death: 07/30/1945, Pacific Ocean on board USS Indianapolis
Church: Leota, MN Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Nov 1945, p. 22
Schenkel, Henry - Cpl United States Army
Birth: 11/18/1942.
Entered service: 03/22/1942
Death: 06/07/1944, Beach Head, Normandy, France; place
of burial: France
Parents: Schenkel, Jacob
Home: Oak Lawn, IL; Church: Oak Lawn, IL Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Nov 1944, p. 22
Schermer, Robert Wayne - Pvt United States
Army
Birth: 01/19/1926.
Entered service: 03/29/1944
Death: 01/04/1945, Belgium; place of burial: Belgium
Parents: Schermer, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew
Home: Zeeland, MI; Church: Third Zeeland, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Apr 1945, p. 18
Schilder, Rudolph J. - S 2/c United States
Navy
Birth: 02/20/1925.
Entered service: 07/01/1943
Death: 04/28/1944, Winona, AR; place of burial:
Pella, IA
Parents: Schilder, Mr. and Mrs. Arie
Home: Pella, IA; Church: First Pella, IA Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Sep 1944, p. 12
Schmidt, Willis - Lt United States Air Force
Birth: 01/16/1921.
Entered service: 10/20/1940
Death: 10/20/1943, Australia; place of burial: Southwest Pacific Area
Parents: Schmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: Second Englewood, Chicago, IL Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jan 1944, p. 39
Schoelier, Sidney - Sp/4 United States Army
Birth: 04/12/1945.
Entered service: 02/20/1966
Death: 10/06/1967, Vietnam; place of burial: Mt. Brydges, ON
Parents: Schoelier, Mrs. Hille
Church: Sussex, NJ Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Feb 1968, p. 33
Schreuder, Anthony - Pfc United States Army
Death: 06/08/1944, Italy; place of burial: Italy
Parents: Schreuder, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Home: Kalamazoo, MI; Church: Second Kalamazoo, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Aug 1944, p. 9
Schreur, Gerald Jay - Pfc United States
Marine Corps
Birth: 02/01/1926.
Entered service: 06/23/1944
Death: 06/15/45?, Okinawa; place of burial: Okinawa
Home: Lowell, MI; Church: Ada, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Aug 1945, p. 15
Schroeder, Richard Glenn - Hospital man
United States Navy
Birth: 05/25/1942.
Entered service: 09/29/1964
Death: 07/14/1966, Vietnam; place of burial: Lansing, IL
Parents: Schroeder, Mr. and Mrs. Richard H.
Home: Lansing, IL; Church: Munster Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Oct 1966, p. 32
Schuringa, Jacob - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 01/15/1926.
Entered service: 03/21/1944
Death: 01/02/1945, Libramont, Belgium; place of burial:
Meuse, France
Parents: Schuringa, Mr. and Mrs. James
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: Fourth Chicago, IL Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Apr 1945, p. 19
Schurman, Clarence - Lt United States Air
Force
Birth: 10/02/1920.
Entered service: 05/1942
Death: 12/25/1944, Germany
Parents: Flim, Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: Second Englewood, Chicago, IL Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Feb 1946, p. 16
Sebens, Franklin - WT 1/c United States
Navy
Death: 12/03/1944, Linguyan Gulf
Spouse: Mang, Virginia
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sebens
Home: Lynden, WA, Second Lynden, WA Christian Reformed Church
Listed in Young Calvinist:
May 1945, p. 2
Sjoerdsma, Theodore - Pvt United States
Army
Birth: 07/13/1919.
Entered service: 07/31/1944
Death: 02/07/1945, Germany; place of burial: Foy, Belgium
Spouse: Sjoerdsma, Mrs. T. - children: three
Parents: Sjoerdsma, Mr. and Mrs. A.
Home: Randolph, WI; Church: First Randolph, WI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1945, p. 17
Slager, Edward P. - Cpl United States Air
Force
Entered service:
09/1943
Death: 12/27/1944, Saipan
Home: Kalamazoo, MI; Church: First
Kalamazoo, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Mar 1945, p. 18
Slager, James A. - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 05/20/1926.
Entered service: 10/02/1944
Death: 06/21/1945, Okinawa; place of burial: Okinawa
Parents: Slager, Mr. and Mrs. William J.
Church: Comstock, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Dec 1945, p. 20
Slager, Justin John - Pfc United States
Army
Birth: 09/19/1923.
Entered service: 01/13/1943
Death: 11/27/1943, Europe; place of burial: at sea-Mediterranean
Parents: Slager, Mr. and Mrs. Peter J.
Home: Kalamazoo, MI; Church: Milwood, Kalamazoo, MI Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jan 1946, p. 16
Slenk, Harold J. - S/Sgt United States Army
Birth: 05/16/1915.
Entered service: 11/18/1941
Death: 11/29/1944, Germany; place of burial: Belgium
Spouse: Lenters, Reka - children: Beverly Ann
Parents: Slenk, Mr. and Mrs. John
Home: Saugatuck, MI; Church: East Saugatuck, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1945, p. 17
Smalligan, Garret P. - Pfc United States
Army
Entered service:
04/01/1942
Death: 05/31/1944, Italy; place of burial: Italy
Parents: Smalligan, Mr. and Mrs. C.
Home: Fremont, MI; Church: First Fremont, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Sep 1944, p. 12
Smidstra, Charles R. - Sp/4 United States
Army
Birth: 11/26/1947.
Entered service: 12/1967
Death: 10/02/1968, Vietnam; place of burial: Rock Rapids, IA
Parents: Smidstra, Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Home: Rock Rapids, IA; Church: Rock Rapids, IA Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Dec 1968, p. 30
Smit, Andrew G. - Sgt United States Army
Birth: 05/22/1921.
Entered service: 10/16/1942
Death: 11/30/1945, Pacific Ocean
Parents: Smit, Mr. and Mrs. B.
Church: Beaverdam, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Feb 1946, p. 16
Smit, John K. - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 07/14/1926.
Entered service: 09/11/1944
Death: 04/30/1945, Okinawa; place of burial: Same
Parents: Smit, Mrs. Henry
Home: Ripon, CA; Church: First Ripon, CA Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Sep 1945, p. 14
Smith, James - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 06/22/1921.
Entered service: 12/28/1942
Death: 06/06/1944, France
Parents: Smith, John and Minnie
Home: McBain, MI; Church: West Branch, McBain, MI Christian Reformed
Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Oct 1944, p. 17
Smith, Martin Jr. - Lt United States Air
Force
Birth: 02/20/1921.
Entered service: 05/15/1942
Death: 12/14/1943, Vella La Vella; place of burial:
Vella La Vella
Parents: Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Home: Grand Rapids, MI; Church: Fuller Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI
Christian Reformed
Church
Smitter, Donald Warren - Ensign United States
Navy
Birth: 01/30/1921.
Entered service: 10/25/1943
Death: 08/03/1945, Pensacola, FL
Spouse: Mc Murray, Ellen
Parents: Smitter, Mr. and Mrs. Claude
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: Third Roseland, Chicago, IL Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Dec 1945, p. 21
Snieder, Theodore Gregory - A/S United States
Air Force
Birth: 08/14/1919.
Entered service:
Death: 10/03/1942, Texas; place of burial: Ireton, IA
Parents: Van Donge, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Home: Ireton, IA; Church: First Ireton, IA Christian Reformed Church
Spalink, John Jr. - S/Sgt United States
Army
Birth: 01/17/1922.
Entered service: 02/1943
Death: 02/04/1945, Lupao, Luzon, Philippines; place
of burial: Luzon,
Philippines
Parents: Spalink, Mr. and Mrs. John
Home: Grand Rapids, MI; Church: LaGrave Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI
Christian Reformed
Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Feb 1946, p. 16
Split, John E. - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 02/24/1921.
Entered service: 10/05/1942
Death: 07/09/1944, Italy; place of burial: Italy
Parents: Split, Mr. and Mrs. Julius
Home: Grand Rapids, MI; Church: Franklin Street, Grand Rapids, MI
Christian Reformed
Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Oct 1944, p. 17
Steenstra, William LeRoy - Pvt United States
Army
Birth: 07/12/1945.
Entered service: 11/1965
Death: 09/20/1966, Korea; place of burial: Leota, MN
Parents: Steenstra, Gerrit
Home: Edgerton, MN; Church: First Edgerton, MN Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jan 1967, p. 28
Steenwyk, Bernard - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 07/08/1920.
Entered service: 08/25/1942
Death: 02/06/1945, Luzon
Parents: Steenwyk, Mr. and Mrs. N.B.
Church: Hudsonville, MI; Hudsonville, MI Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jun 1945 p. 14
Steenwyk, Henry - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 03/10/1916.
Entered service: 07/09/1943
Death: 03/20/1945, Germany; place of burial: Belgium
Spouse: Brower, Ethel
Parents: Steenwyk, Mr. and Mrs. N.B.
Home: Hudsonville, MI; Church: Hudsonville, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jun 1945 p. 14
Stehouwer, Donald A. - Pvt United States
Army
Birth: 11/11/1948.
Entered service: 07/05/1968
Death: 11/26/1968, Fort Belvoir, VA; place of burial:
Grand Rapids, MI
Spouse: Kunz, Ruth
Parents: Stehouwer, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian
Home: Grandville, MI; Church: West Leonard, Grand Rapids, MI Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Feb 1969, p. 26
Sterken, Gerald John - Pfc United States
Army
Entered service:
10/1941
Death: after 4/12/1942; Japanese prison camp, Philippines
Church: Delavan, WI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1945, p. 18
Stob, Benjamin - Pvt United States Army
Birth: 01/27/1923.
Entered service: 10/03/1943
Death: 06/03/1944, Italy; place of burial: Italy
Parents: Stob, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
Church: Second Cicero, IL Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Sep 1944, p. 13
Stuit, Tony - Pfc United States Air Force
Birth: 09/30/1923.
Entered service: 01/1943
Death: 05/14/1945, Nacogdoches, TX; place of burial:
Nacogdoches, TX
Parents: Stuit, Mr. and Mrs. J.
Church: Modesto, CA Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jul 1945, p. 15
Stulp, Koert - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 12/25/1917.
Entered service: 10/20/1941
Death: 09/11/1944, France
Parents: Stulp, Mr. and Mrs. John
Home: Chicago, IL; Church: First Chicago, IL Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Dec 1944, p. 20
Swaving, Elmer - S/Sgt United States Army
Birth: 08/30/1920.
Entered service: 08/20/1942
Death: 06/21/1943, near Salinas, CA; place of burial:
Worthington, MN
Parents: Swaving, Mr. and Mrs. Peter
Home: Worthington, MN; Church: Worthington, MN Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Sep 1944, p. 12
Talsma, Merton - Pvt United States Army
Death: 02/02/1945, Burma
Parents: Talsma, Mr. and Mrs. John
Church: Arlene, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jun 1945 p. 15
Tanis, Malvin J. - Cpl United States Army
Birth: 02/19/1916.
Entered service: 07/10/1942
Death: 12/28/1944, Belgium; place of burial: East Dispatch Cemetery, Cawker City,
KS
Spouse: Tanis, Charlotte
Parents: Tanis, Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Church: Dispatch, KS Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Mar 1945, p. 18
Ten Kate, Ronald J. - ADJ 3rd
United States Navy
Birth: 11/24/1942.
Entered service: 03/16/1961
Death: 01/10/1964, Jacksonville, FL; place of burial:
Ridgewood, NJ
Parents: Ten Kate, Mr. and Mrs. James
Home: Wykoff, NJ; Church: Irving Park, Midland Park, NJ Christian
Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1964, p. 20
Ter Haar, Anthony Jay - Sgt United States
Air Force
Birth: 01/04/1920.
Entered service: 10/07/1942
Death: 06/21/1944, Germany
Parents: Ter Haar, Mr. and Mrs. Arie
Home: Holland, MI; Church: Maple Avenue, Holland, MI Christian Reformed
Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jan 1945, p. 21
Terpstra, Marvin - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 08/28/1920.
Entered service: 10/31/1942
Death: 08/07/1944, France
Spouse: Ding, Juella S.E. - children: Jerry
Lee
Parents: Terpstra, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian
Home: Hamilton, MI; Church: Niekerk, Holland, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jan 1945, p. 21
Teunis, William - S/Sgt United States Army
Birth: 09/11. Entered
service: 02/11/1943
Death: 05/24/1944, Austria
Parents: Teunis, Anna and William
Home: Spring Lake, MI; Church: Spring Lake, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Dec 1944, p. 19
Tiddens, Harold P. - 1st Lt United
States Air Force
Death: 07/07/1945, Japan
Spouse: Ondersma, Ann
Church: East Paris, Grand Rapids, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Oct 1945, p. 17
Tien, Kenneth Raymond - TM 3/c United States
Army
Entered service:
11/20/1942
Death: 11/1944
Spouse: Van Dyke, Martha
Church: Graafschap, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Mar 1946, p. 16
Tiesenga, Andrew L. - Pvt United States
Army
Birth: 01/03/1926.
Entered service: 03/27/1944
Death: 04/20/1945, Germany; place of burial: St. Arnold, France
Parents: Tiesenga, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Church: Cutlerville, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Jul 1945, p. 14
Timmer, Gerrit W. - Pfc United States Army
Birth: 02/05/1922.
Entered service: 12/07/1942
Death: 11/27/1944, France; place of burial: France
Spouse: Timmer, Mrs. G.
Parents: Timmer, Mrs. G.
Home: Zeeland, MI; Church: Zutphen, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: Apr 1945, p. 18
Tjapkes, Donald G. - Pvt United States Marine
Corps
Birth: 06/29/1925.
Entered service: 04/28/1944
Death: 02/28/1945, Iwo Jima; place of burial: Iwo Jima
Parents: Tjapkes, Mr. and Mrs. Peter
Home: Muskegon, MI; Church: First Muskegon, MI Christian Reformed Church
Obituary in Young
Calvinist: May 1945, p. 17
Ufkes, John - Pfc United States Army
Death: World War II
Home: Ripon, CA
Listed in Young Calvinist:
May 1945, p. 2
More surnames: