Cornelius Ernest Schoonejongen

on Friday, Feb. 6, after a brief illness.

Dr. Schoonejongen was born in Prospect Park, N.J., to Ethel and

Hermanus Schoonejongen. He was the ninth of 11 children.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served honorably

as an air traffic controller stateside during World War II.

After completing his duty, he enrolled in Eastern College in St. Davids, Pa.,

and then in what is now Palmer Theological Seminary, where he eventually

received his doctorate in the 1970s. He had given his life to Christ in the 1930s and

decided then to become a minister in His service.

During his career as a pastor, he served three congregations full-time -- Marlton Baptist Church, Marlton, N.J.;

North Baptist Church, Port Chester, N.Y.; and Berean Baptist Church, Bridgeton, N.J.

He and his wife, Dorothy, who survives him, especially loved the

youth in his churches, taking them on day trips to baseball games, the

beach and amusement parks and hosting informal get-togethers at their homes.

He also served on the Evesham Board of Education in Evesham Township, N.J., for a

number of years and was heavily involved in Rotary. He was a New

Jersey delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in the early 1970s.

Following his retirement to Terra Siesta in Ellenton in 1989, he started holding

Sunday services six months out of the year at the community hall in the village.

Those services continue to this day, with Dr. Schoonejongen

delivering his last sermon on Jan. 25.

He was known as a dynamic, powerful speaker with a

wonderful understanding of scripture.

His many friends and congregants loved his sermons and

his delivery of the Word of the Lord will be missed greatly.

Dr. Schoonejongen also served as the president of the Terra Siesta board of

directors for more than a decade, helping to form the co-op that purchased the park.

For years, residents and boards at other parks sought his advice on establishing co-ops.

Dr. Schoonejongen and Dorothy are known by many as caring, giving people who

tried in all situations to live out their faith in simple but profound ways.

He was predeceased by a son, Ralph D., in 2003.

In addition to his wife of 68 years, Dr. Schoonejongen is survived by

two sons and two daughters-in-law, Ronald J. and Anita of Tucson, Ariz.,

and Cornelius John and Nina of Millstone Township, N.J.;

five grandchildren, Jesse, Jennifer, Mark, Hendrick and Sophie;

and two great-grandchildren;

one sister, Hermina Ellis of Ohio, and a host of

nieces, nephews and dear friends.

A memorial service will be held

at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Woods Hall on Nancy Lane in the Terra Siesta Mobile Home Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the

Tidewell Hospice, 4151 37th Street East, Palmetto, FL 34221.