Donald Dale Hoornstra
Born: May 27th, 2017
Died: May 27th, 2017
Obituary
Rev. Donald Dale Hoornstra, 74, of Bemidji, MN died May 27, 2017 in Plymouth, MN of Lewy Body Dementia.
Donald was born November 4, 1942, in St. Clair, MI and graduated from high school in 1960 in Leesburg, FL. He earned a B.A. degree from Augustana College, Rock Island, IL in 1964 and a Master's of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1972. His graduate studies earned him a Master's degree from the School of Religion, University of Iowa, in May 1972, and he was ordained in May 1972.
Pastor Hoornstra served a fruitful 5-year ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Camanche, IA and a long 30-year ministry at Messiah Lutheran Church in Burlington, IA. He retired to Bemidji, MN. He was very active in community service and in many ministries of the church. He was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed photography and woodworking.
Pastor Hoornstra was preceded in death by his father, Milton Dale Hoornstra, and his mother, Louise Clara Priehs, of Leesburg, FL. He married Carol Ann Smith in 1965 and later married Susan Johnson Flaatten in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Susan, of Bemidji, MN; a son, Tedric (Leanne), of St. Petersburg, FL; a daughter, Dr. LaDonna (Greg) McGohan, of Decorah, IA; two step-children Kirsten (John) Busse, of Plymouth, MN; Eric (Dawn) Flaatten, of Bedford, TX; two brothers Terry (Eileen) of Blountville, TN; and John (Rhonda) of Fruitland Park, FL. There are also 8 grandchildren.
Per his wishes, the body has been cremated, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date in Burlington, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the "ELCA's Fund for Leaders" to fund seminary scholarships.