John Robert Bylsma passed away on December 15, 2024. John was born in Pipestone, Minnesota, on March 15, 1937, to Gerrit Bylsma and Jennie Roelofs Bylsma.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 1-3 PM at Miller Funeral Home Downtown Chapel, 507 S. Main Ave. Funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 2 PM at 1st Presbyterian Church, 2300 S. West Ave. Private Interment will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery.

He was raised in Edgerton, Minnesota. His father, Gerrit, managed a lumber yard among other occupations, and his mother, Jennie, stayed at home with John and his younger sister, Betty. John was a leader in his high school class and continued to organize the class reunions until well into his 70s. He loved to read and discuss ideas; a book was always kept nearby. John majored in philosophy at Central College in Pella, Iowa. After college, he attended seminary for one year. He then went on to the University of Iowa to earn an advanced degree in history. During one of his classes, he sat next to a young lady who then introduced herself stating that she was tired of waiting for people to introduce themselves to her. Paula Ann Dupree became his wife on Dec. 28, 1963. Paula received her master's in history and John received his master's and Ph.D. in history from the University of Iowa. John's Ph.D. focused on English Parliamentary History.

Johns's first teaching job was at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. In 1968, John and Paula's first child, Amy was born. Soon thereafter, they moved to Sioux Falls so that John could join the faculty of Augustana College. In 1969, Paula and John's son, David, was born. John expected to only stay at Augustana for a few years. Instead, he stayed for 31 years. John was a highly involved member of the Augustana history faculty for 19 years. He shared his passion for European history with his students in his classes and during many interim trips to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. John contributed to many aspects of Augustana, including expanding the options for international study and collaborating on a major overhaul of the curriculum. After a transition year of working half-time as a faculty member and half-time as the registrar, John committed full-time to the administration of Augie. He stated that he had spent enough years arguing from the faculty side and that it was now time to see issues from the administration's point of view. He was the registrar and associate dean for 10 years. In addition to their activities at Augustana, John and Paula were instrumental in establishing a chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Sioux Falls.

John and Paula dreamed of traveling upon retirement. They traveled to England together. Paula passed away in 2003. John continued to travel, visiting China and Greece, floating down the Amazon River, going on a safari in Kenya, and exploring the world. He also treated his children and grandchildren to bi-yearly trips to wonderful places such as Alaska, Costa Rica, Northern Minnesota, California, and Hawaii. John will be greatly missed by his daughter Amy Engebretson and husband Dan, Sioux Falls, son David Bylsma and wife Monica Port, Ashland, OR, 5 grandchildren, Ariel Engebretson, Ben (Mandy Davis) Engebretson, Sam Engebretson, Noah Bylsma, and Micah Bylsma and one great-grandchild, Davis Engebretson.

If you wish to give a gift in memory of John, please consider donating to the John and Paula Bylsma History Department Endowment by writing a check to Augustana University with the endowment listed in the memo line, to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls, or to the Seed Sowers Fund at First Presbyterian Church.

To watch John's funeral, please click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE1ZO3r9xzQ