Douglas Warners was a man who loved people and truly cared deeply for others. “When you spoke to him,” said his daughter, “you knew that you had his full attention, that he was listening and would be praying for you.” A man of integrity, Pastor Doug, as he was called by the many church members he served and loved, focused on living for Jesus in each small thing, and it showed in all the big areas of his life as well. Doug, 84, having lived several years with the effects of dementia, died March 19.
A graduate of Calvin College (now University) and Seminary, Doug was ordained in 1967. Before his first pastorate in 1976 at First Christian Reformed Church of Detroit in Grosse Point, Mich., he was a teacher at Christian high schools in Kalamazoo, Mich., and Denver, Colo. He went on to serve First CRC of Artesia, Calif.; East Leonard CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Woodville Community Church in White Cloud, Mich. He retired in 2007.
Doug enjoyed singing, evangelizing, playing games, spending time in nature, and taking his boat out on Lake Michigan. In retirement, Doug and his wife, Judy, volunteered with World Renew and shared many hours with family and friends at their home on Hess Lake, Mich.
Doug will be lovingly remembered by Judy, his wife of 61 years; three children and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.