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Rev. F. Timothy Van Antwerp was born September 17, 1934, in Chicago Heights, Illinois to Fred Dewey and Vera Hopman Van Antwerp. His sister Donna Van Antwerp Schmidt was two years younger. He passed into eternal life on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at home surrounded by his wife and children, at the age of 88, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tim was raised in Tinley Park, Illinois. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on January 13, 1935, and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park, Illinois, on March 30, 1947. Tim graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1953, and he attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, Texas, graduating in 1958 with a degree in history.
Tim met the love of his life, Sylvia Annette Weiss, in the fall of 1957 while at TLC. They were married on August 12, 1961, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Killeen, Texas. He was called to the ministry and graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in May, 1963. Tim and Sylvia were blessed with three children, Lisa, Julie, and Kevin.
Tim was ordained at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park on Sunday, August 11, 1963, and began his ministry at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Greenvine, Texas. During 36 years of ministry, he served six Lutheran congregations in Texas: Emmanuel, Greenvine; St. Paul, Crawford; St. John, Coryell City; St. Paul, Rosenberg; Christ, Georgetown; Holy Cross, Yoakum; and supplied at UDML, Shiner, and Abiding Savior, Cameron. Tim retired in 1999. After retirement, Tim and Sylvia moved to Fredericksburg in 2002 where he continued to serve as a supply pastor at Christ, Cherry Spring; St. Peter, Doss; and St. John, Castell. During his ministry, he focused on youth work and enjoyed taking his youth groups on retreats and to Bible camp.
Tim was an avid photographer and had a passion for driving through the hill country in search of perfect bluebonnet photo opportunities. Tim and Sylvia spent their retirement years traveling and especially enjoyed camping with friends and family. If you ever sat down with Tim while he was planning a trip, you would have the fortune of previewing the trip complete with marked road maps, pamphlets, and a review of his research. He loved to sing with gusto and to whistle, especially to the hymns in church. He was a lifelong baseball fan and cheered loudly for the Chicago Cubs.
Tim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sylvia Weiss Van Antwerp; three children Lisa Van Antwerp-Rangel and husband Max of Sugar Land, TX; Julie Van Antwerp Borg and husband Gregory of Houston, TX; Kevin Van Antwerp and wife Stephanie of Liberty Hill, TX; four much loved grandsons: Andrew, Jonathan, and Timothy Van Antwerp, and Alex Borg; brothers-in-law Larry (Joy) Weiss and Charles (Karen) Weiss; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. Tim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Donna Schmidt.
A funeral service will be Saturday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. Fredericksburg Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Tim will be interred at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Castell, Texas. The family has requested that memorials be made to Bethany Lutheran Foundation or the charity of your choice.
We remember Rev. Van Antwerp's family in our prayers and trust that the promise of the Resurrection is true and sure.
In Christ,
Bishop Sue Briner
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