Rev. Henry Beukema
Rev. Henry ‘Hank’ Beukema, 90, passed away at his home in Upper Grandview on July 12, 2017 with family by his side and after a short illness. Hank was born in Pompton Lakes, NJ; the oldest of 5 children. The family moved frequently during the Depression years and even lived on a farm while he was in high school. He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, NY where he met his wife, Margaret ‘Peg’ Chaffee, and they were married in 1949. Hank was ordained to the ministry and served the Lord for over 70 years. Hank worked initially with HiBA leading Bible clubs for high school students in the NYC area, South Jersey, Cleveland, OH, Johnstown, PA and then back to the NYC area; settling in Nyack where the family has lived for the past 59 years. In 1957, Hank worked nightly in the counseling room at the Billy Graham Crusade in NYC, and then was invited to coordinate the Billy Graham Pavilion at the NY World’s Fair in 1964/5. From there, he joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) as crusade director for numerous crusades across the country and in Asia for Billy Graham and associate evangelists. In the mid 70’s, he worked with World Literature Crusade and Latin America Mission, and then served as Associate Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet, NY for 13 years before returning to the BGEA for another 10 year. Since 2000, he continued to speak at churches, senior groups and to officiate weddings and funerals. He gave a devotional at a senior group just last month. Hank is survived by his wife of 68 years, Peg; two sons: Hank (Pomona, NY) and Mark (Newark, NJ); a sister, Joan Chapman (Greenville, SC) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Edna Beukema, brothers: Greig and Jack, and a sister, Betty Ann Emerson; a son, Carl Thomas, who died as an infant in 1953, and grandson, Jesse, who died in an accident at 18 in 1992. A Memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Grace Baptist Church, 20 Demarest Ave., Nanuet, NY 10954 and a reception to follow. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Grace Baptist Church or United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Slokum Lane, New City, NY 10956. Arrangements by Hannemann Funeral Homes, Inc., Nyack.Obituary
Rev. Henry ‘Hank’ Beukema, 90, passed away at his home in Upper Grandview on July 12, 2017 with family by his side and after a short illness. Hank was born in Pompton Lakes, NJ; the oldest of 5 children. The family moved frequently during the Depression years and even lived on a farm while he was in high school. He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, NY where he met his wife, Margaret ‘Peg’ Chaffee, and they were married in 1949. Hank was ordained to the ministry and served the Lord for over 70 years. Hank worked initially with HiBA leading Bible clubs for high school students in the NYC area, South Jersey, Cleveland, OH, Johnstown, PA and then back to the NYC area; settling in Nyack where the family has lived for the past 59 years. In 1957, Hank worked nightly in the counseling room at the Billy Graham Crusade in NYC, and then was invited to coordinate the Billy Graham Pavilion at the NY World’s Fair in 1964/5. From there, he joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) as crusade director for numerous crusades across the country and in Asia for Billy Graham and associate evangelists. In the mid 70’s, he worked with World Literature Crusade and Latin America Mission, and then served as Associate Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet, NY for 13 years before returning to the BGEA for another 10 year. Since 2000, he continued to speak at churches, senior groups and to officiate weddings and funerals. He gave a devotional at a senior group just last month. Hank is survived by his wife of 68 years, Peg; two sons: Hank (Pomona, NY) and Mark (Newark, NJ); a sister, Joan Chapman (Greenville, SC) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Edna Beukema, brothers: Greig and Jack, and a sister, Betty Ann Emerson; a son, Carl Thomas, who died as an infant in 1953, and grandson, Jesse, who died in an accident at 18 in 1992. A Memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Grace Baptist Church, 20 Demarest Ave., Nanuet, NY 10954 and a reception to follow. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Grace Baptist Church or United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Slokum Lane, New City, NY 10956. Arrangements by Hannemann Funeral Homes, Inc., Nyack.