Willem Adriaan De Villiers was born on March 29, 1949 in Harrismith, Orange Free State, South Africa. In 1968 he graduated from Police College and served in that capapcity. In 1975 he graduated from the University of the Orange Free State, where he met and married Miriam du Plooy. Willem entered diplomatic service for South Africa as a first secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Ottawa. After returning to South Africa, Willem and Miriam adopted an infant son, Willy, days before they emigrated to the United States, where Willem earned his Masters in Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1990. He served as an ordained Baptist minister in Campbellsburg, Indiana, before moving to northeast Indiana to begin a career as a psychotherapist. He and Miriam worked at the Northeastern Center and later at St. Joseph Hospital Intensive Outpatient Therapy. Eventually Willem entered private practice as a psychotherapist, which he did until receiving the diagnosis of terminal cancer. He died in the loving arms of his special friend, Lucia Kroh, on May 8, 2017, six months after having endured paralysis and futile measures to counter glioblastoma.

Willem was a man of God, intensely spiritual and incredibly kind. His patients declare he saved their life, or he helped them believe in themselves, or he gave them courage to live life. His colleagues and friends say simply he was one of a kind. He is survived by his grandchildren Payton Thomas and Maddox de Villiers, as well as his sister-in-law Helen de Villiers of South Africa, niece Yolande de Villiers of the Netherlands and nephew Theo de Villiers.∼Willem A. De Villiers, 68, passed away Monday, May 8, 2017 at his home in Fort Wayne. Born in Harrysmith, South Africa, Willem moved to the United States where he attended Southern Baptist University earning his Master's degree. He was an ordained pastor serving at several churches in Campbellsburg, IN and Kendallville, IN. Willem also worked as a communications attache at the National Press Club in Ottawa, Canada, and later as a Psychotherapist with St. Joseph Hospital and the Northeastern Center in Kendallville, IN. Willem was a deeply spiritual person who loved spending time in nature and enjoying time with his many friends. Surviving are his special friend, Lucia Kroh of Fort Wayne; 2 grandchildren, Payton and Maddox; brother, Francois De Villiers of South Africa; and several nieces and nephews. Willem was preceded in death by his son, Willem De Villiers; parents, Adriaan and Coy De Villiers; and his brother, Coenie De Villiers. Service is 3:00 pm, Sunday, May 14, 2017 at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Rd with calling one hour prior. Calling also Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Willem's grandchildren I/C of Lucia Kroh. To sign the online guest book, go to www.domccombandsons.com.