Van Drunen, Seymour (1923-1964) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Corenlius Van Drunen, of South Holland, Illinios, was born on December 9, 1923. After graduating from Chicago Christian High School, Seymour entered Thorton Township Junior College as an engineering student in 1941. While still at college, he became a member of the Enlisted Reserve Corps. He was called to active duty the summer of 1943, and was assigned to overseas duty in France in the fall of 1944. When his unit entered Germany he was seriously wounded. After a period of military hospitalization, he was discharged in 1945.

In 1954, Seymour felt a call to the ministry. He graduated from Calvin College in 1957 and from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1960. As a candidate he received a number of calls. He accepted a call from the Hamilton, Michigan, Christian Reformed Church where he was ordained on September 22, 1960.

Although he received a number of calls during his ministry in Hamilton, Seymour felt constrained to remain there. His emphasis in the service of the church was upon the youth in the congregation. He became the president of the Young Calvinist League, and promoted the Summer Workshops In Missions program.

Toward the end of the vacation period in July 1964, death came by drowning. He was survived by his wife, Wilma Schaap, and their five children.

Seymour was observed as a man who "worked vigorously and preached dynamically, as if he sensed that his years of earthly ministry were to be but few."