John Martinus Beumer

John Martinus Beumer went to be with the Lord Jesus on Sunday morning Feb 19, 2023. He died peacefully at his home in St George, Utah at the age of 87. John was born on May 22, 1935, in Winterswijk, Holland and was raised the youngest of 5 siblings in Uithoorn, a small town close to the Amstel River. The childhood of his memory was spent during World War II under Nazi occupation. As a young boy he experienced the disappearance of Jewish friends. Along with this, His father was in danger for assisting in efforts to help them. He saved a young girl from drowning and a friend from a near death. During his teenage years he spent much time (Maybe a little more than his school master father had wished) helping an older cargo barge owner navigate his canal boat to other towns. From that experience, John grew to love ships and seafaring. In his 20’s John served in the Dutch military as was required for young men at the time. He then earned a ships engineering degree and became a merchant marine. He had many interesting adventures crossing the Atlantic visiting North and South American Seaports. But his adventures at sea would not last. While at home John met and married Anneke (Anne) Burgess the love of his life in 1961. In 1963 they immigrated to the U.S. from Holland through the sponsorship of the Christian Reformed Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. He traded in seafaring and ships for the dryer climate of Utah where they raised two boys, Martin and Randy. John and Anne were married for 56 years. Anne died of cancer in 2016, and John lived as a widower on his own for 6 years. John held a variety of jobs in SLC holding to a strong work ethic. Eventually he became a self-employed estimator and supplier for several water treatment projects for Alder Construction. Both John and Anne made many close friends with fellow immigrants in the SLC church. His outgoing nature and Anne’s warm hospitality made their marriage a blessing to many families. Knowing what it was like to be strangers in a foreign land inspired them also to open their home to refugees from Vietnam and Laos, immigrants, college students from Germany, England, Indonesia, and China, youth mission workers, and homeless families. John’s faith led him to serve as an elder and deacon in the SLC Christian Reformed Church. He served on the Salt Lake Rescue Mission board many years and preached sermons on occasion. Preaching in English as a second language with no training put him way out of his comfort zone! But he saw the need to let people know the Gospel and recruited his friends to join in the cause. John used his talents to bless others. He not only remodeled his own homes but also helped other people with remodeling projects and home repair especially with plumbing. He liked to go fishing with his family and friends and playing a good game of chess. John also loved organ music and hymnody. In his 40’s he saw a need in his local church for extra organists and decided to take on organ lessons. Eventually he was able to fill in as a church organist when needed. His favorite hymns were “Holy, Holy, Holy”, and “By the Sea of Crystal”. In 2001, John and Anne moved to Southern Utah and made good friends at Southland Bible Church. They began a Bible study group which John attended each Friday for 20 years until his last days. John grew up in a family of faithful believers in Jesus Christ living out their hope by loving and caring for those around them. But as all Christians recognize, he was a sinner in need of the Savior. He would admit that he was not without his faults and prejudices that go along with his strong personality. It is the character of Christ and his righteousness to redeem us that John held on to. In his life he sought God’s forgiveness and sought to forgive and reconcile with others. His phrases of wisdom were, “It never hurts to ask; the worst they can say is no”, “Always make big decisions after a good night’s sleep”, and the best of all, “Nothing in this world is for free, except God’s love.” John is preceded in death by his wife Anneke Beumer (Burgess), and by their middle son Wade, by his siblings Roelfina Dehoop, Rie Nagtegaal, Henk Beumer, and Mas Beumer. He is survived by his sons and their wives; Martin and Kelly Beumer of SLC UT., and Randy and Laura Beumer of Modesto CA., by his grandchildren Bobbi Gordon and Jeremy Wilburn of SLC UT, And Amber Reynolds of SLC Ut , and her children Quinten, Landon, and Ivy, by Keagen and Molly Beumer of Oak Harbor WA., and their children Jan, Danny, and Anneke, by Lindsey and Zack Kossak of Modesto CA., and their daughter Evelynn, and by Madelynn Beumer of Grand Rapids MI. The Family would like to thank John’s friends and neighbors who include especially Linda and Ray Spencer, and many church friends from Southland Bile Church for their constant and generous support, IHC hospital staff, and the Dixie Hospice team for their wonderful care for John and our family. Thanks be to God! A memorial service is planned for Sunday May 14th at 2PM held in the Southland Bible Church. 195 E Arrowweed Way, Washington, UT 84780. Family and Friends are invited to share tributes online at www.Serenity StG.com.

John Martinus Beumer

May 22, 1935 - February 19, 2023