Charles Jansen, age 91, died on March 4, 2025. Born June 1, 1933, in Grand Rapids, the youngest of five boys, he led a life guided by the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, both in life and in death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”
A graduate of Grand Rapids Christian Schools, he spent a year at Calvin College, then enlisted in the Army serving in Alaska. Chuck married Audrey Helder in 1956 and finished his Calvin degree while working as an orderly at Butterworth Hospital. Not long after graduation they left for Nigeria and served as missionaries over the next 13 years. Upon their return from Nigeria, he found work in Mexico, as a hospital administrator at Audrain Medical Center where he spent the next 25 years until his retirement. AMC expanded under his leadership and he acted as a mentor to many.
While in Mexico, First Presbyterian Church was a source of long-standing friendships and opportunities to serve as an elder, choir member, and Sunday school teacher.
Exhibiting the tenacity of his Dutch immigrant parents, he built a life of abundance after a Depression Era beginning. He loved a well-manicured lawn, a clean floor, and button-down shirts. He was extremely strong willed, a trait he passed on to all four of his daughters, sometimes to his consternation. He cared deeply about his church community and participated long into his retirement in Neland Avenue Church.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Audrey Jansen, his daughter, Betsy Kamphuis, his son-in-law Greg Smith, and his brothers, Bill, George, Kink, and Tony. May they be there to greet him. He is survived by Brenda Smith, Bob Kamphuis, Melanie Jansen and Mike Brisben, Melisa and Dan Hubka; his sister-in-law, Karen DeVos; his grandchildren David and Kate, Char and Alex, Clairellyn and Micah, AnnaLeigh and Jake, Scout, Erin, and Isaac; and by three great grandchildren, Teddy, Lydia and Helena, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was a complicated man who searched for God his whole life. May he be at peace now.
Memorial services will be held at Neland Avenue Church (940 Neland Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507) on June 14, 2025, 2 p.m. There will be visitation starting 1 hour prior to the service.
