Carl Boonstra was born on May 26, 1925 in Ringsted, Iowa to Henry and Rose (Koistra) Boonstra, immigrants from the Netherlands. He passed away on June 7, 2023 in Springfield, Missouri.

The family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1937. When he was 12, Carl had to drop out of school to help provide for the family.

He was invited to attend the Englewood Baptist Tabernacle and was subsequently saved by placing his trust in Jesus Christ.

As World War II was raging, he was drafted and ended up in Normandy on June 7, 1944. His Medical Evacuation unit followed General Patton through the Battle of the Bulge. When the war was won, Carl had orders to stay in Europe for almost a year.

Upon his return to Colorado, he went back to the Tabernacle.  It was there he met Elsie Herzog.  They were married in 1948 and went to study at the Bible Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Carl Boonstra was a Baptist minister for 75 years.  He pastored the Bear Creek Baptist Church in Texas, then became the co-pastor at the Tabernacle upon his graduation from Seminary in 1951. In 1955, Carl and Elsie Boonstra founded the East Side Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. East Side quickly developed the reputation for being a great missionary church.

In 1972, Carl and Elsie moved to Springfield, where he became the Director of Missions for Baptist Bible Fellowship International.  He was granted an honorary doctorate of divinity from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in 1974. He served the BBFI and the Mission Office during very productive years.  Missionaries were sent all around the world.  Carl and Elsie visited more than 70 countries, preaching and teaching and encouraging missionaries and local pastors everywhere they traveled.

His passion was preaching the Bible; his pastimes were gardening, raising Angus cattle, reading and collecting books.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Zachary, his wife Elsie and his younger sister, Jeanette.  Carl Boonstra is survived by his three children, Sharon and James Smith, Carla and James Davis, John and Julie Boonstra; his six grandchildren (Nicole Yates, Michelle Davis, Stacey Myers, David Boonstra, Janelle Herman, and Aimee Boonstra. And 12 great-grandchildren, nephews, many friends and fellow ministers all over the world.

A memorial service for Carl Boonstra will be held on Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Boonstra Chapel in the BBFI Mission Office building, 720 E Kearney, Springfield, MO 65803.