Bernard Zylstra

Bernard Zylstra, 89, of Chippewa Falls, WI passed away on November 30, 2024 surrounded by family under the care of Mayo Hospice. 

 Bernie was born on April 6, 1935 to Harmen and Wilma (Hofstra) Zylstra in Garyp Friesland, Netherlands.

 Being an immigrant from the Netherlands in 1952, at 17, he did not attend High School, but went directly to college. He graduated with a 5-year Bachelor of Theology degree from Minnesota Bible College. Two weeks after he graduated from college, his GED High School diploma arrived in the mail.

 Bernie was united in marriage to Jean Marie Cahoon on June 1, 1957. Together they shared sixty-seven meaningful, and sometimes challenging, years together, rounding out the family with five wonderful children, Julia, Michael, Daniel, Mary and Andrew. 

 Bernie was a beloved Christian minister and loved to preach. He spent 32 years in located ministries in Wisconsin and Iowa. He also served 10 years as State Evangelist for the Wisconsin Christian Missionary Association, visiting, encouraging and helping establish new churches in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

 In his personal time, Bernie loved to play pickleball and racquetball. He participated in the Birkebeiner Ski race in Cable, Wisconsin for 10 years. He loved to be outside enjoying our beautiful place on the Chippewa River. You could find him gardening every summer.

 He also participated in numerous mission trips to the Netherlands, the Youth Hostel in Thailand, and various places in the U.S. that needed help with tornado clean-up and other building projects.

 In 2016, Bernie decided to write his story, so he published “Secrets from the Rock”. It chronicles his life from childhood through some of his ministries. In 2023 the book was republished and “Through the Chicken Coop” stories were added. These are accounts, from each of the siblings, of the war years and experiences of hiding Jews during that time. 

 Every Spring for the last several years, Bernie has been collecting sap from our 11 maple trees (plus a few of the neighbor’s trees) to make yummy maple syrup. He found great pleasure in giving it away to family and friends. 

 Bernie is survived by his loving wife Jean (Cahoon) Zylstra; his children, Julia M. (Tim) Griner of Eau Claire, Mike W. (Judy) Zylstra of Villa Grove, IL, Dan C. (Sandy) Zylstra of Chippewa Falls, and Andrew W. (Amy) Zylstra of Centuria, WI; his sister, Tena Wolterstorff of MN; his 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; along with many other family members, friends and loved ones.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Harmen and Wilma Zylstra; and his beloved daughter, Mary E. Zylstra in 1987; 4 brothers and one sister of his 7 siblings.

 A funeral service for Bernie will held Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Landmark Church in Chippewa Falls with Pastor Brad Crocker officiating. Visitation will be 10:00am, with the service at 11:00. A luncheon will follow. Interment will take place at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Mary E. Zylstra Scholarship Fund, through the Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College. This is given to students training for Christian ministry.

Bernie's Funeral will be Livestreamed via Facebook at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/share/12AEEfPrkft/