Robert Devries

Rev. Robert "Bob" Wopke DeVries, age 93, of Cedar Springs, Michigan, recently of Middlebury, Vermont passed away peacefully at his home and entered his heavenly home on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. He was born August 2, 1928, in Groningen, Netherlands, to the late John and Getruida (Smid) DeVries. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Eleanor Jean (Dangler) DeVries. It was Bob's sincere belief that God gave him Jean, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, along with many dear friends from the churches he pastored for over 60 years. He is survived by his son, Stephen (Beth) DeVries; daughter, Sue Hutting; 4 grandchildren, Lisa (Daniel) Smith, Robert (Valerie Warren) DeVries, Sarah (Jack Hutchins) Baldwin, and Melody (Joe Anderson) Hutting; and he was blessed with 12 great-grandchildren. Bob was born in the Netherlands and immigrated with his parents at the age of 2. He served in the United States Navy from 1946-1948. Bob and Jean married in their hometown of Eatontown, NJ, in 1948. They moved to Grand Rapids, MI to attend Calvin College, now University, where he graduated in 1952. He went on to Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, to earn a Master of Divinity. He pastored these churches: Franklin Lakes Christian Reformed Church of Franklin Lakes, NJ from 1956-1963, Framingham Christian Reformed Church of Framingham, MA from 1963-1970, Rochester Christian Reformed Church of Rochester, NY from 1970-1979, and Northside Christian Reformed Church of Clifton, NJ from 1979-1993. He retired to New Hampshire and later to Vermont. He was a founding member and associate pastor of the New Haven United Reformed Church of New Haven, VT. Bob continued to serve in God's Kingdom long into retirement by leading Bible classes, serving as clerk of his Classes and preaching quite regularly. Bob and Jean traveled to Europe and South Africa and made lifelong friends from South Africa. He enjoyed reading, antiques, painting and the outdoors. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at New Haven United Reformed Church, 1660 Ethan Allen Hwy., New Haven, Vermont, 05472, with Rev. Andrew Knott officiating. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006, exclusive providers of Veterans Funeral Care. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Devries, please visit our flower store.