Pastor James "Jim" John Vander Roest

On October 17th, 2025, Pastor James John Vander Roest was ushered into Heaven by Angels, where he saw his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jim was born on November 16, 1946, to Lawrence and Rina (VandenBos) Vander Roest in Kalamazoo, MI. He was a 1964 graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School, later graduating from WMU and Western Theological Seminary. Jim had two careers; he worked for A&P and Jack’s Super Valu in both South Haven and Kalamazoo for 20 years as a meat manager. In 1989, at age 43, he was called to full time ministry and three years of seminary training. Fourth Reformed Church (now Voyage) and Martin Reformed Church is where he served with joy and blessing. After retiring from the ministry, Jim and Sandy lived in Spring Lake, MI.

Jim and Sandy moved full-time to Lakeland, FL 3 years ago and are members of Lakes Church.

On August 5, 1966, Jim married his love, Sandra La Lone, spending 59 years together. They were blessed with three sons: James (Karla) of South Haven, Stephen (Jen) of Traverse City, and Jonathan (Laura) of Grand Haven, and an exchange student daughter, Ulrike (Adam); nine grandchildren: Molly, Nathan (Adrianna), Jacob, Abbey, Samuel, Ethan, Elliot and Luke; his brother, Larry (Diane); sister-in-law, Sharon La Lone-Jones; as well as several nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

A Memorial Service for Jim will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Martin Reformed Church, 1073 W. Allegan St., Martin, MI, 49070, with luncheon to follow. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., at the church.

Memorial Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made by mailing checks to: One More Child, 1015 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland, FL, 33815 or by visiting https://onemorechild.org/ - One More Child provides Christ-centered child welfare and prevention services in more than 50 locations locally and globally, meeting the critical needs of families and children in crises.

“He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.”  - Psalm 62:6

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14

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