Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sessink, Richard Frank 2014
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com July 11, 2015, 10:52 pm

The Hastings Reminder, November, 2014


HAINES CITY, FL - Pastor Richard Frank Sessink went to the Home he often sang 
of on Monday, October 27, 2014.  He passed away in his sleep from heart 
failure. 

Richard F. Sessink was born on April 14, 1934 to Frank and Elizabeth Sessink in 
Grand Rapids.  He graduated from Central High School where he was all-state in 
football and ran track.  He served in the US Army until his honorable discharge 
in 1955.  He played semi-pro football as a walk on for the Grand Rapids 
Shamrocks.  

Richard was a mason for 20 years, working for Grangers in Grand Rapids.  He was 
married to Linda Shepard until her death in 1985, and they had four children. 

When he became a Christian in his 30s, he felt The Lord call him to be a 
preacher.  He graduated from Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music and became 
the pastor of United Brethren Church in Lake Odessa.  In 1980, he founded Faith 
Bible Church in Lake Odessa.  In 1983 he founded Faith Christian School and was 
administrator there until he retired from both ministries in 1995. 

On June 8, 1992, he married Erika Shellenbarger, and they lived the last 17 
years in Haines City, FL.  While living in Florida, he was very active, 
pitching for his softball team, competing around the state.  The highlight was 
in 2011 when he pitched his team into the national championship, playing 
against 161 teams from 29 states.  He batted 1000, pitched a perfect final 
game, won the national championship, and was voted MVP. 

Richard is remembered by the many souls that he led to Christ, the smile he was 
eager to share, how he walked around singing or whistling, and jingling the 
change in his pocket.  He loved to sing songs about his love for his Savior.  
He loved his family immensely, and he loved the ministries that God called him 
to.  We rejoice to know that he heard God say to him, "Well done, good and 
faithful servant". 

Richard is survived by wife, Erika Sessink; children and grandchildren, Kevin 
(Sandra) Sessink, Hannah and Grace Shannon Sessink Thompson and Brad Bennett, 
Cash and Lana Kyle (Mary) Sessink, Kalyn and Luke Rit (Angel) Sessink, Jared 
and Shae Donavan Shellenbarger and Kellen Katherine (Ken) Gould and Kaleb; 
sisters: Marion Meyers and Harriet Schippers.  Richard was preceded in death by 
parents, Frank and Elizabeth Sessink; wife, Linda Sessink; sisters, Eleanor 
Foote and Lois Ann Heemstra; and son-in-law, Dan Thompson. 

A memorial service will be held on November 8, 2014 in Haines City, FL.  His 
family will have a small gathering of remembrance in Michigan later in the 
month.


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