Ter Maat, Richard John age 84, peacefully joined his Lord and Savior on September 13, 2023 in Grand Rapids, 20 months after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was born on September 21, 1938 in Vesper, Wisconsin to John and Margaret Ter Maat. Dick married Helen Meylink on August 20, 1960. They have lived on the west side of Grand Rapids since 1964 when he accepted a call from Ninth Reformed Church after graduation from Western Theological Seminary. In 1967 he established The Other Way Ministries and served as executive director until his retirement in 2003. In 1981 Dick and Helen and their three children Kristin, Thomas, and Lisa became charter members of Servant’s Community Reformed Church where Dick led the new congregation as part time pastor for five years and remained a member throughout his life. In 1990 Dick founded Westown Jubilee Housing and served as executive director until the late 2000’s when he retired.
Dick was a lifelong learner. In addition to earning his Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary, he also received a Master of Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1981 and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1995.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents John and Margaret Ter Maat, his in-laws Harold and Elizabeth Meylink, his sister and brother-in-law Harriet and Lloyd Debbink, and his brother-in-law Roger Sandee.
Dick is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen, his siblings Helen (Gordy) Veldboom, David (Mary) Ter Maat, Cindy (Steve) Heinen, sister-in-law Marilyn Sandee and many nieces and nephews; his children Kristin (Dave) DeVries, Thomas (Vivian) Ter Maat, and Lisa (Jeramie) Rigsby; grandchildren Lukas (Kelli) Duimstra, Abigail (Nicholas) Wagner, Korinne (Brian) Pupel, and Benjamin (Lorretta) Duimstra, Lauren, Brooke, and Ingrid Ter Maat, Michael, Nathanael, and Joseph Rigsby and great grandchildren Ryan and Emerson Duimstra, Maisie and Audra Wagner, and baby girl Pupel to be born in November. He is also survived by step grandchildren David, Rita, and Jenee DeVries and step great grandchildren Eden and Sullivan Pupel. Dick’s life verse was 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that is in you.”
Visitation for Dick Ter Maat will be held on Saturday, September 23rd 2023 from 4pm- 6pm at Heritage Funeral Home on Lake Michigan Drive. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 24th 2023 at 4pm at Orchard Hill Reformed Church on 3 Mile Rd in Walker.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be given to The Other Way Ministries, Westown Jubilee Housing, or Servant’s Community Reformed Church.
