COLL/553 Guide to the William D. Buursma Collection Buursma, William D. Collection Finding Aid Authors: Ed Gerritsen.

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Hekman Library 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI, 49546 URL: http://archives.calvin.edu Email: crcarchives@calvin.edu Phone: 616-526-6913 Fax: 616-526-7689
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Guide to the William D. Buursma Collection 1941/2000 Heritage Hall, Hekman Library Overview of the Collection William D. Buursma Collection 1941-2000 COLL/553 Buursma, William D., 1925-2013 1.00 2 Boxes Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Hekman Library 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI, URL: http://archives.calvin.edu Email: crcarchives@calvin.edu Phone: 616-526-6913 Fax: 616-526-7689
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church (1952-1991).
Biographical Information:

William D. Buursma (8/16/1925 - 7/6/2013) found his life's highest purpose at the foot of the cross, eloquently proclaiming the truth and beauty of the Christian message as a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. He was an exemplary churchman, committed to the Reformed expression of Christianity yet warmly ecumenical in spirit. His parishioners appreciated his crisply reasoned, biblically rooted, and imaginatively crafted sermons that sought to inspire deep thought and abiding faith. Born in a small village in northern Friesland, he emigrated to Holland, Michigan, with his parents at the dawn of the Great Depression. After enlisting in the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry during WWII, he was educated at Calvin College and Calvin Seminary. He pastored churches in Strathroy, Ontario; Munster, Indiana; Bethel in Grand Rapids; and Third Kalamazoo. In his retirement, he returned to Grand Rapids and served at Ridgewood CRC in Jenison and Ada CRC, as well as at the VanRaalte Institute at Hope College. He deeply loved languages and etymology and was fluent in Frisian, Dutch, English, and German until dementia cruelly robbed him of his ability to speak. He was a faithful fan of Calvin College basketball teams, classical music, British poetry, antique furnishings, vegetable gardening, the Heidelberg Catechism, and his family. He was a frequent contributor to the CRC's magazine, The Banner, and hosted weekly television shows in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids focusing on the interplay of faith and culture.

(http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?pid=165695446)

Arrangement of Materials:

Folder level description

Detailed List of Contents id63115 [General Materials] id63116 1 id63117 1 1-21 Correspondence 1955-2000 id63118 1 22 Account of Trip to Israel Aug 1968 id63119 1 23 Paper - Remembrances of a Christmas Past id63120 1 24 Federation Messenger Article undated id63121 1 25 Sermon: Untroubled Hearts - JFK Memorial Service Nov 26, 1963 id63122 1 26 Young Calvinist Convention Program Booklet (W.D.B. Speaker) 1955 id63123 1 27 DeKoster vs. Boer Debate Booklet and Newsclippings Mar 1979 id63124 1 28 Memoirs of Albert Burrsma (Uncle of W.D.B.) 1968 and 1978 id63125 1 29 Complaint: William Buursma vs. Jack B. Dick Mar 1986 id63126 2 id63127 2 1 Scrapbook of World War II Servicemen Photos and Newsclippings 1941-1945