David Risseeuw, retired pastor
Rev. David Risseeuw, 80, of Millsboro, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Beebe Healthcare. He was born May 10, 1941, in Sheboygan, Wis., son of the late Lewis and Augusta (De Master) Risseeuw.
David received his bachelor's degree from Central College, a small Dutch Reformed college in Pella, Iowa. There he excelled in speech, drama, student government, and a premedical curriculum which included original undergraduate research funded by the National Science Foundation. Somewhat of a surprise, David accepted God's call to pastoral ministry in his senior year. He enrolled at The New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, N.J., the oldest Protestant seminary in North America, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1968.
David's first pastorate was at the Clinton Avenue Reformed Church in Bergenfield, N.J. It was the worst of times and it was the best of times during the wild and evolving 1960s. Under his pastorate, he served the returning servicemen, both living and dead, counseled more than two dozen church members of the Bergenfield Police Department, and guided the flower power children.
After eight years, David accepted the challenge to participate in a team ministry at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady, N.Y. It is a historic congregation dating from 1680, but it was church home to close to a thousand research scientists, engineers and management who worked at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. David’s undergraduate work in the sciences gave his rapport as a minister additional credibility.
The last pastorate assignment was at the Six Mile Run Reformed Church in Franklin Park, N.J. This became the greatest challenge of David’s career. Over his 17 years as the pastor, he worked to transform the congregation into a multi-ethnic, multi-racial church that encompassed members from four continents and 23 nations of origin.
Beyond assisting patients and their families to meet their health challenges, David truly enjoyed the fellowship of St. George's Chapel congregation and the activities of the Dragons men's group. While gardening, golf, and fishing were to be his retirement goals, they were effectively replaced by his gourmet and fun cooking for church social functions. David came to be called the "Cheeseman" because he manned his fine Wisconsin cheese booth at the annual Christmas Fair. His very traditional Christmas stollens sold quickly, leaving many people to wonder why they had not arrived earlier.
David’s clergy service to the Reformed Church of America included leadership positions at the local, regional, national and international levels: attending the 6th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Vancouver, British Columbia; inspecting mission-created hospitals and leprosy clinics in South India; chairing the trustees of the three Reformed Church seminaries; leading workshops on multicultural ministry; chairing committees which processed candidates for ordained ministry; and screening candidates for the largest East Coast program that trains hospital chaplains.
In his retirement, David was also a part-time chaplain at Beebe Healthcare. If you were ever a patient there, you may remember, "Hello, I'm David, and I've come to pray with you."
David is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie Gird Risseeuw; his daughter, Sara Erickson (Hans) of Niskayuna, N.Y.; his stepsons: Robert (Theresa) of Orlando, Fla., John (Yvonne) of Glen Burnie, Md., and Garrett (Stephanie) of Beaverton, Ore.; his 10 grandchildren; his three great-grandchildren; his brother, John Risseeuw (Linda); and his sister, Mary Risseeuw. David was particularly proud of all that his siblings have accomplished. John Risseeuw is a professor emeritus from Arizona State University with an international following for his work in print media and paper making. His life work was requested by the Library of Congress in 2018. Mary is a guru recognized for her extensive research in Dutch American history. She is well known for her writing and lecturing on all aspects of Dutch genealogy and the Dutch migration across America.
A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, May 14, at St. George's Chapel, 20271 Beaver Dam Road, Harbeson. A reception will immediately follow at the Fellowship Hall.
Final care has been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in David's memory to All Saints’ Episcopal Church and St. George's Chapel, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Visit David’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
