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Lester DeKoster

After starting his career as a public school teacher, including several years at South High School, Lester DeKoster became the Director of Libraries for Calvin College and Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1951, and was a speech professor for many years. He is largely credited with assembling the world’s most comprehensive collection of materials on John Calvin and Calvinism for the college’s collection.

After retiring in 1969, he served for 10 years as editor of The Banner, weekly news magazine of the Christian Reformed Church. In 1979 he founded, with Gerard Berghoef, Christian’s Library Press, committed to publishing influential texts on church leadership, the vocation of work, and stewardship. He co-authored several books with Berghoef, including The Great Divide, published by the Trust.

DeKoster died in 2009 at the age of 93.  He and his wife, Ruth, were married for nearly 68 years. They had one daughter, Leslie, and three sons, Paul, Mark and Stephen.