On January 25, 2026 on an early Sunday morning, God called his beloved child Gerard Ringnalda by name. In his last days our beloved Dad and Opa often told us, “Ik ga naar de Heer,” (I am going to the Lord) and so we both grieved and rejoiced when God took him home.

Born in Den Haag, Nederland on October 23, 1928, Dad studied at the Free University in Amsterdam to become a minister. While in seminary, he met the light of his life, Nelly Verseveldt, and they married on July 23, 1955. Together they had five children, six congregations, and one immigrant journey to Canada. Mom liked to say that while Dad was praying about a call, she would get busy packing the suitcases. Dad liked to say, “If you are going to do something, do it well.” And so they did. Together Mom and Dad served CRC congregations in OudeHorne Vriesland, Lindsay Ontario, Belleville Ontario, Edmonton Alberta; then back to Ontario to serve in Burlington, Ottawa East, and Orillia. In 1995, Mom and Dad retired to their home on the shores of the beautiful Lake Couchiching and in 2014, they moved to King Tower in Holland Christian Homes.

Gerard loved his work as pastor and later as chaplain in Toronto. Dad’s gift was pastoral, and though he preached a good sermon, he relished visits and teaching catechism. His people loved him for it. He encouraged his children to seek justice, speak up for the oppressed, be grateful in all things. He praised his kids and grandkids with an exultant, “Good show!” as he taught them to fish, drive a standard, manage a boat, and waterski. He loved Canada for its freedom, its wild nature and vastness, its fishing and water sports. He built his own boat at age 30, flung himself across the goalmouth in soccer at age 40, sprint ten meters when he was 50, and sing loudly offkey in church at any age. Dad put his whole self into whatever he did.

He was beloved and he loved in return: his wife Nelly, his children Jackie Ringnalda, Arda and Jim Rooks, Helen and Ed Van Beilen, Wilma and Rick Guetter, Arie and April Ringnalda. They will miss their father dearly, as will those who called him Opa: Gerrit, Mariel and Chase, Nathan and Natalie, Linnelle and Joel, Laura and Tony, Sarah and Chuck, Elia, Brenden, Aaron, Marcel and Karla, Jordan and Alex, Eric and Maia, Rachel, Kieran, and Annika. His great grandchildren will remember how their beloved OverOpa would kneel down to catch their eye and make them laugh or giggle. How he could make a baby smile with that click-click sound! Over Opa knew them by name: Naia, Iona, Maddie, Bodie, Jonah Gerard, Elliott, Jackie, Blake, Miles, Jude, Wren, Vries, Willem, Adrie, Marcus Gerard.

Dad died as he lived, in gratitude. Some of his last words were, “Thank you, thank you everyone, thank you God.” He often said, “It is between you and the Lord,” a blessing that allowed us to live freely in how we walked with God. To the end, our father modeled faithfulness in his walk with his Savior and Lord, in his service to others, in his theology and beliefs, and in how he so deeply loved us all. Dad was light and love.

A private family service and interment will be held on Saturday, January 31 and a Celebration of Life at a later date. Instead of flowers, a donation can be made to World Renew https://worldrenew.ca Visits, letters or cards would be gratefully received by Nelly, whose new home is Room 504, Faith Manor, Holland Christian Homes, 7934 McLaughlin Rd, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 5A7.