Obituaries
Marvin DeWayne Hoeksema, MDiv 1961, was welcomed into heaven to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 28, 2018.He was born May 25th, 1931 in Muscatine. Marvin met his wife Doris (Bierman) Hoeksema while at Muscatine Junior College. Following graduation from Iowa Wesleyan College they were married on May 24th, 1953. Marvin was drafted in the US Army shortly thereafter and stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. After receiving his honorable discharge, Marvin began his career as a junior high history teacher and coach. Marvin left the teaching field to answer a call to the ministry and moved the young family to Wilmore, Kentucky, to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. His first pastorate was in New Providence, Iowa, where Marvin served two churches Honey Creek Friends and New Providence Friends. Marvin’s calling to the ministry lead the family to Kenya, East Africa in 1968 where Marvin was the Principal of the Friends Bible Institute. Returning to Iowa in 1971, he served for two years as the Yearly Meeting Superintendent for Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends churches. In 1973, the family moved back to New Providence where Marvin served as the chaplain for Quakerdale Children’s Home. It was here that he found his gift for Development work which led to ministry with William Penn College and then with Wesley Life for several years until his retirement in 1998. Retirement included active involvement with his friends at Middle River Friends Church and his family. The joy of his life was his wife of 65 years, his sons and their families. Marvin is survived by his wife Doris, four sons, Steven & Cindy, James & Donna, John & Regina, and David & Ardeth, 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents Fred & Lillian Hoeksema and three grandchildren.
Lyell M. Rader, Jr., MDiv 1969, Honorary DDiv 1970, 78, passed into eternity June 29, 2018, from Bethlehem, PA. He was the son of Lt. Colonel Dr. Lyell M. Rader (Sr.) and Gladys Damon Rader. Born in New York City, he was a minister and educator in The Salvation Army with the rank of Lt. Colonel. His wife of 53 years, Elaine J. Rader, is also a minister. Lyell studied at Asbury University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Syracuse University and Columbia University Teachers College which conferred a doctorate in Religion and Education. He was on the faculty of Asbury University, and The Salvation Army College for Officer Training, New York, and The Salvation Army College for Officers, Colombo, Sri Lanka, also serving on the Board of Trustees of Booth University College, Vancouver. He lectured widely at Salvation Army centers in the United Kingdom, Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America, Australia and Canada, and had numerous publications. His family was resident in Sri Lanka from 1973 to 1986, where Lyell had a largely educational and editorial role with The Salvation Army. Executive appointments in New York followed. In 2005 they retired to Bethlehem Township. Survivors: wife, Elaine J. Rader; siblings, Jeanne Gabrielsen, Lt. Colonel Damon Rader, General Paul Rader, Lt. Colonel Dr. Herbert Rader; daughter, Evangeline Jeanne Rader Discini; sons, Lyell Bramwell Rader, Damon Erik Rader, Tucker Dan Rader; and grandchildren, Angelica June, Alura Ceylon, Arabela Mia, Lucas Mayes, Leila Rose, Aaron Lyell.
We remember with gratitude the faithful service of Lyell Rader in Sri Lanka