Alumnus Dr. Jonathan Rainbow with the Lord

September 01, 2010

Westminster Alumnus Dr. John Rainbow (M. Div. 1977) Died on Tuesday June 8, 2010.  He was 58 years old.

"God, in his love and mercy, called my beloved husband, Jon Rainbow ('77) to glory on June 8, 2010 after a courageous battle with brain cancer.  The years we spent in Philadelphia, he attending WTS, were formative in our understanding of the Bible, God's providence and sovereignty over our lives, and our own desperate need for his mercy and grace.  Jon had a warm place in his heart for the seminary, the many gifted and caring professors, and the other students he met there."
Pat Rainbow, wife of Dr. Rainbow

Full Obituary:

Mr. Jonathan H. Rainbow died peacefully at his home in Visalia, CA and entered his heavenly home on Tuesday, June 8, 2010.  He was born the oldest son of John and Priscilla Rainbow on June 14, 1951 in Minneapolis, MN.  He would have been 59 years old on his birthday. When he was a young boy, the Rainbow family moved to Pomona, CA, where Jonathan attended school and graduated from Pomona High School in 1969.  He continued his studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he met his wife, Pat Weimortz Rainbow.  They were married on July 8, 1972.

Jonathan attended seminary at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.  After seminary, the Rainbows moved to Heil, North Dakota where he pastored his first church and started a family. He later earned a doctoral degree in Reformation History at UCSB.  From there he moved to Porterville, CA with his family and was a pastor for seven years before becoming a teacher of history, Bible, and Honors English at Central Valley Christian High School in Visalia, CA.  Jonathan Rainbow loved music and was a great story-teller, two passions that came together in the four full-length operas he composed and produced in local Visalia theaters.  He leaves to his family, friends, students and many who have been blessed by his preaching, a legacy of faithful service to his Lord and bold preaching of the Word of God. 

Jonathan is survived by his wife Pat of 38 years, three children, Hannah Ploegstra (John) of Visalia, Jesse Rainbow (Andrea) of Somerville, MA, and David Rainbow (Brady) of Glen Ridge, NJ.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Esther, Jack, Hazel, Marybelle, Gretchen, Susanna, and Dorothy; his parents, Jack and Teda Rainbow of Pomona, CA; his brothers, Matthew Rainbow of Lancaster, CA, and Nathan Rainbow (Connie) of Claremont, CA;  his mother-in-law Dorothy Weimortz of Visalia;  sisters-in-law Becky Gilson (Ken) of Visalia, Debbie Blunt (Joe) of Vancouver, WA; and brother-in-law Ed Weimortz (Kathy) of Woodland, CA; and 14 nephews and nieces. 

A memorial service was held on June 12, 2010 at Trinity United Reformed Church in Visalia, California.  Rev. Jathan Newton of Abounding Grace Reformed Baptist Church and Rev. Adrian Dieleman of Trinity URC officiated.  The funeral was at Grace Reformed Church of the Lord Jesus in New Leipzig, North Dakota, with the Rev. Paul Ferrie officiating.  Jonathan was laid to rest in Heil, North Dakota at Prairie View Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to a memorial scholarship in Jonathan Rainbow’s name at Central Valley Christian High School, 5600 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia, CA 93277, or the Care Pregnancy Center of Visalia, 916 West Oak St., Visalia, CA 93291.

Please join with the Westminster Community and President Lillback as we mourn the loss of Dr. Rainbow.