Nelvin Vos, 91, of Maxatawny, died March 19, 2024, at home.

He and his wife, Beverly (Drew) Vos, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 15, 2023.

Born in rural Minnesota, he was the son of Charley Vos and Jeanette (Den Ouden) Vos.

He was on the faculty of Muhlenberg College from 1965-2000 and served as a professor of English, the English Department head, vice president, and dean of the college.

He lectured at a dozen institutions and was a visiting professor at Texas Tech University and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He was a graduate of Calvin College and earned his Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Author of a dozen books on drama and the ministry of the laity, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Values in Higher Education.

His major professional interest in his teaching and scholarship was the relationship of religion and the arts.

He had a deep sense of his calling as a teacher and writer.

He was elected a Fellow of the Society for the Arts, Religion and Contemporary Culture where he served as president and later as executive director.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Allentown, where he served on the vestry and as a teacher, as well, assisting in worship.

He was also involved in the arts at St. John’s.

He held many leadership positions in synodical and national organization boards of the Lutheran Church in America, on its Executive Council, chairman of the Division for Ministry and chair of several studies on the ministry of the laity.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for several terms.

Elected many times as a delegate to the national assemblies of the Lutheran Church, he also served on the Board of Trustees of the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network beginning in 1989, as chairman from 1996-2000, and more recently as trustee emeritus.

He was the founding convener of the Disability Friendly Community of the Lehigh Valley.

He loved flowers, both growing and arranging them, perhaps motivated by his Dutch blood.

He, his wife and family traveled extensively.

He enjoyed the theater and escorted students and other groups to various theaters, here and abroad.

Reading and jigsaw puzzles occupied his leisure time.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Christine Anne Namba, and husband, Tetsuya, of Osaka, Japan; Alicia Joan Vos Moore and husband Glen, of Fairfield Township, Ohio, and David Drew Vos and fiancée Tracy Ream, of Kempton; and grandchildren Andrew and husband, Nick Feller, Alexander Moore, Michael and Olivia Vos, and Tatiana Namba.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be announced at a later date.

Contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 37 S. 5th St., Allentown, or to Muhlenberg College Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements made by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., Allentown.