Pastor Ronald Dean VanLente

Ronald Dean VanLente passed into the arms of our Lord on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at Spectrum’s Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born September 29, 1953 in Holland, Michigan to Lloyd and Marion Van Lente. He attended Fennville Public Schools, Central Michigan University, and Emory University in Atlanta where he received his M.Div. 

He served for 29 years as a United Methodist Pastor, first in the Western North Carolina Conference and then in the West Michigan and Michigan Conferences. He was most recently serving South Haven First UMC. He was married to Kathleen (Logsdon) and had a daughter Mary Jo VanLente (Alberto Valenzuela) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a granddaughter Isabela Rose.  He also had stepchildren: Dan Schoeneich (Jessica) and Anne Clarkson (Jacob) and five step grandchildren: Brennan, Andrew, Lila, Aiden, and Henry.  He is also survived by a stepson from his previous marriage: David (Christy) Hinnant and grandchildren Tim, Erika, Amber, Phoenix.  

The joy of Ron’s life was his family but also his service to God and his music. Here in South Haven he had found the perfect blend of these and this place brought him the happiest years of his life. His association with Foundry Hall was an enormous joy to him and he loved to preach for and sing for anyone who would listen.  He loved the big lake and could tell endless stories about his past sailing adventures and the beaches he loved along the shore. He also enjoyed golf and model railroading.  

In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he leaves behind a brother Chuck (Linda) VanLente and a sister Judy VanLente, nieces and cousins and scores of friends accumulated from a lifetime of being a “preacher’s kid” and then a preacher and musician.

Private family services will be planned, and a public memorial will be held later.  Memorials may be made to UMCOR, Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068 or to Foundry Hall, PO Box 463, South Haven, Michigan 49090.