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At the recent celebration of life service for Bill Dykstra, a friend described the big smile Bill always had when he told the story of how God led him—a farm boy from Bloomfield, Ont.—into lifelong ministry. Bill, 85, died Dec. 12, 2024. He has been described as a kind, thoughtful, loving, reflective, intelligent, and passionate man who placed a special emphasis on mercy and restorative justice.

Born in the Netherlands, Bill immigrated with his family to Bloomfield at age 12, where he grew up helping with work on the farm.

From work on the farm to graduating from Calvin College (now University) and Seminary, Bill was ordained into ministry in 1969. He served Maple Ridge (B.C.) Christian Reformed Church and then became the first CRC campus pastor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. After eight years he went on to pastor two Ontario congregations: First CRC, Chatham-Kent, and Bethel Community CRC, Newmarket.

Pursuing his passion for social justice, Bill became a prison chaplain in 1998 serving Beaver Creek Correctional Institution, a minimum and medium security federal prison in Gravenhurst, Ont. He retired in 2003 but continued to volunteer there, staying in touch with many former prisoners after their release.

Bill loved to golf and fish and spent many summers enjoying the beauty and quiet of Bobs Lake, Ont., in his little fishing boat. Bill was known as “Daddy fix-it,” as he was always fixing things around the house, from toys to appliances and vehicles. When not fixing things, he was often “puttering around” his workshop building furniture.

Bill is survived by Virginia, his wife of 59 years; three children and their spouses; and eight grandchildren.