Reverend Harlan Paul Nyhof surrendered his mortal shell and walked into God’s grace on January 11, 2021.
He was born on October 24, 1933 to Rev. and Mrs. Henry and Vivian (Kooi) Nyhof in Marion, North Dakota. Born the first of six children, he was preceded in death by a brother, Mr. Rolyn Nyhof, and is survived by Mrs. Verla (Wayne) Joosse, Mr. Calvin (Katherine) Nyhof, Mr. Gordon Nyhof, and Ms. Rosie Wurpts.
As a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Rev. Nyhof was a quiet, solid pillar of each community where he lived. He is survived by his wife, Diane Kay (Oldenburg) Nyhof, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan whom he married on June 22, 1960, and their three sons: Scott H. Nyhof (Susan Gardner) of Lakeland, Florida, Paul J. Nyhof (Rosemary) of Middletown, New York, and David A. Nyhof ( Elizabeth Abbott) of Bolton, Massachusetts. He is also survived by one grandson, Adam P. Nyhof and one granddaughter Meghan C. Nyhof, pre-deceased by one niece and survived by ten nieces and nephews.
Harlan attended high school in part by listening to lessons on the phonograph and by radio during the evening, graduated from Central College (Pella, Iowa, 1955) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology followed by a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan, 1959). Rev. Nyhof faithfully ministered to parishes in Monroe, South Dakota, Wilmar, Minnesota, and Waterloo, Iowa. In early 1976 the family moved from the mid-west to the southern edge of the Catskill Mountains, where he jointly served parishes in Claryville, Grahamsville, and Woodbourne. As a pastor to these six parishes, he officiated 214 weddings and 301 baptisms.
He was also a member of Kiwanis (Waterloo, Iowa) and Lions Club (Catskills). His life-long interests included reading biographies and historical novels and commentary of books in both the Old and New Testament, playing and teaching chess, and participating in biennial family reunions usually held in the mid-west. He truly enjoyed domestic and international travel, particularly Europe and the Holy Land. Rev. Nyhof was honored to serve his community as a chaplain for the Grahamsville Volunteer Fire Department. He also truly looked forward to meeting the Ladies Quilting Circle in Claryville. He was a true New York Yankees fan.
After retiring to Warwick, he could often be seen by his new-found friends and neighbors on daily walks picking up trash and litter from the roadside, helping to keep the village clean.
Following a small private service for immediate family, officiated by Pastor Stacey Duensing Pearce of the Warwick Reformed Church, he will be interred for peaceful rest in Warwick Cemetery in Warwick, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation to Western Theological Seminary, 101 East 13th Street, Holland, MI 49423 or online at https://www.westernsem.edu/