Lynn T Joosten

Rev.Lynn T. Joosten 76, of Niskayuna died Tuesday evening May 1, 2007 at Ellis Hospital with his wife Shirley by his side. Born September 5, 1930 near Lakeview, S.D. he grew up on his parent's farm in Todd County, on the Indian Rosebud Reservation. Upon graduation from high school the family moved to Pella, Iowa where he attended Central College. After receiving a B.A. degree he attended theological school and graduated in 1955 from New Brunswick Seminary in N.J. His first church was Bellevue Reformed in Schenectady, where he was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor in 1955. It was there that Lynn met Shirley Uebele: they were married on May 4, 1957 at the church by senior pastor, Rev. Norman Thomas. Mr. Joosten served as the first installed pastor of a new church, The Church in Brielle, N.J. Later called to First Church in Albany, as pastor of Christian Education and Youth Ministries. Following this charge, he served for several years as Director of Youth Ministries for the Reformed Church of America; the pastor of Christ Community Church in Utica: Director at Warwick Conference Center; and his last charge was spent jointly between Coeymans and Glenmont Reformed Churches near Albany. After retirement in 1996, Lynn served as interim pastor back at Bellevue Reformed Church and Blooming Grove Reformed in DeFreestville. He preached in a wide variety of churches, filling in for pastors in the Capital district area. Lynn became involved with directorships in the retired Senior Volunteer Program and the NYS Association of Retarded Citizens, he was a volunteer with reading programs for children in public school; the Schenectady Inner City Ministry Food Pantry and Task Force; the Board of Directors for Bethesda House, guitar playing and singing for Colonie Day Care Program and sang in the Mendelssohn Club in Albany. Lynn was predeceased by his parents Bert and Clara, brothers Steve and Calvin and nephew Curtis. Survivors include his wife Shirley and sons Larry(Becky) and Lindsey(Moya);six grandsons, Jason, Timothy, Daniel, Brendan, Tyler, and Zachery and great grandson Jason Lee; nieces Beverly(Jaren) Depenning and Diane (Jim) Nelson ;nephew Kent(Sue) Joosten ;sister-in-laws, Pauline VanderZyl and Evelyn Joosten and Several grandnieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday morning May 5, 2007 at 11 am at First Church in Albany, 110 Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207. A visitation will be held on Friday evening at the Bond Funeral Home, Broadway & Guilderland Avenue, Schenectady from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Lynn Joosten Scholarship Fund of First Church in Albany, 110 Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207 or to Schenectady Inner City Ministry Food Program, 930 Albany St., Schenectady, NY 12307