CORNELIUS POOL

Reverend Cornelius Pool
March 10, 1951 - January 22, 2023
Reverend Cornelius Pool, 71, of Riverside, CA passed away Sunday, January 22. His passing was
unexpected as he had a heart attack while on a cruise with his siblings on his way to Panama.
While we mourn his loss we know that he is home with his Lord and Savior.
Cor was born on March 10, 1951 to Anna and Thys Pool in the Netherlands. They immigrated
to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada when he was an infant where they worked on a farm. Cor was
the youngest son of a family of 11 kids! He later attended Calvin Theological Seminary,
graduating with a Masters in Divinity in 1978.
Cor married the love of his life, Kathleen Emmelkamp, July 13, 1973 and they were married for
almost 38 years before she passed away. They were blessed with four children and seven
grandchildren, Karianne, (Scott), Benjamen Kraetsch of San Diego, CA, Janessa, (Stephen) Butz
of Dacono, CO, Jeremy, (Grace), Karis, Jovin, and Willa Pool of Dane, WI, and Kendal, (Katie)
Andy, Dana, and Johnny Pool of Riverside CA.
Following seminary, Cor served at a number of churches and was a very active part of the
Christian Reformed Church Synod. Cor and Kathy were with Crosspoint Community Church in
Tillsonburg, Ontario from 1978 until 1982. Then they moved to Helena, MT and served at
Green Meadow CRC. During this time they were able to spend a lot of time with Kathy’s family
in the Bozeman area and Cor’s family in Alberta. They moved to Fresno, CA in 1989 where Cor
served as a pastor at Fresno CRC. They left Fresno (and Kari) in 1994 for Regina, Saskatchewan.
Cor served there at Sonlight Community Church until 1999. The boys, Cor, and Kathy left
Regina for Riverside, CA while Janessa stayed behind.
In Riverside, Cor and Kathy found a church family in Hope Community CRC. They gained a
daughter-in-law (Katie) and her family, Tim, Nancy, Bobby, and Amanda Peck became an
extension of their own family. They made many true friends there that supported the family
when Kathy passed in 2011. Cor found solace in the church community, spending time with his
kids and grandkids, as well as the Pecks. Bobby and Amanda’s children, Emma, Hailey, and Ellie
became his “bonus” grandkids, and he became “Papa Corn” to them. He retired from being a
full-time pastor in 2016 but continued to serve in various ways until his death. He spent time at
Visalia CRC, Phoenix CRC, San Jose CRC, and Crossroads CRC. He continued to participate in the
CRC Synod and spent time as Stated Clerk, Regional Pastor, and Synodical Deputy. He was also
honored to be elected President of Synod in 2017. He spent a lot of time traveling after he
retired as well, visiting his children and grandchildren as well as extended family in the US and
Canada. He was also able to travel to the Netherlands to see his birthplace.
Cor was well known for being a kind and compassionate person. He had a great sense of
humor. He was always willing to help people in their time of need as well as during times of
celebration. He performed many marriages, loved baptizing and holding babies, but also

offered solace during times of pain and loss. He was a true mirror of our Heavenly Father,
leading many people to faith by example with humility.
Cor was predeceased in death by his parents, parents-in-law, beloved wife Kathy, siblings Jenny,
John, Jim, Sadie, Frank, and Dirk, in-laws Len Kamp, Truman Emmelkamp, Larry Emmelkamp,
and Harry Slomp, as well as several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He will be missed so much by his children and grandchildren, siblings Bonnie Slomp, Melle
(Diane), Shirley (George) Vink, and Anne (John) Vossebelt, in-laws Eldean Kamp, Helen
Emmelkamp, Keith (Karen), Ken (Ardene), as well as nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held at The River CRC (459 E. Highland Ave, Redlands, CA 92373) on
Friday, February 3, 2023, at 3:00 PM. There will be a virtual streaming option available for
those that cannot make it in person. Please use this link
https://www.youtube.com/@therivercrc and click on the “Live” tab to access the stream on
Friday, February 3, at 3:00 Pacific Time. A reception will be held following the service along
with desserts and coffee.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Riverside Christian Day School, 3612 Arlington
Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506, 951-686-1818 (Kathy and Cor Pool Scholarship Fund).
Matthew 25:21 Well done, good and faithful servant!

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