Rev. Samuel Muyskens

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rev. Samuel Muyskens, of Wichita, KS, on Friday, January 9, 2026. Sam leaves a legacy of faith, service, and bridge-building among diverse communities. Known throughout the Wichita area and beyond for his lifelong commitment to spiritual leadership and interfaith dialogue, Sam’s work touched countless lives and helped foster mutual respect across religious and cultural boundaries.

Sam was born on January 2, 1941, in Holland, Nebraska to the Rev. George Bernard Muyskens and Jannetta (DenHartog) Muyskens. Sam graduated high school in Mitchell, SD and continued his education earning Bachelor Degrees in Music and Drama at Dakota Wesleyan University. Sam went on to attend Southern Methodist University where he earned a Master of Music Education, a Master of Sacred Music, and a Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology where he became ordained as a United Methodist Minister.

During these years at SMU, Sam met the love of his life, Ellan Smith, whom he married on July 2, 1970.

For over five decades, Sam dedicated his life to ministry in all its forms—serving as a Minister of Music, Minister of Youth, Prison Chaplain, Senior Pastor, and a visionary leader in interfaith work. While his ministry spanned Phoenix, AZ, Mattoon, IL, and Sioux Falls, SD, a significant portion of his career was spent in Wichita, KS. There, he spent three decades weaving himself into the fabric of the community—first through 13 years as Senior Pastor at West Heights UMC, and later through 17 years as Executive Director of Inter-Faith Ministries. Whether he was addressing homelessness, launching the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in Kansas, coordinating restorative justice/family group conferencing for juvenile offenders, their families and victims, establishing the GoZones initiative to provide after-school programs in neighborhoods, organizing Faith in Action volunteers to support the elderly and disabled, or working to revitalize downtown Wichita, Sam’s work was always about bringing people of different faiths together, beyond their differences, for the betterment of the community.

Sam’s heart for service extended far beyond city borders as well. In 1988, Sam helped found the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN), a non-profit organization connecting interfaith groups across US, Canada, and Mexico. His deep friendship with the community of Lambert, Haiti, led to the establishment of ASAP Haiti, now known as Haiti Hope Foundation, and more than 50 mission trips for Sam and others over three decades. Through this work, the people of Lambert have a school, computer technology lab, trained teachers, and a medical clinic, and thousands of students have received an education.

In his later years with Global Faith in Action, Sam continued to live out his passion of bringing diverse communities together through “dinner dialogues” in order to learn from each other about how to live in “respectful presence” of one another. Sam’s life was a masterclass of faith in practice. His leadership, warmth, and unwavering dedication to serving others will be deeply missed by family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives he enriched.

Sam is survived by his wife, Ellan, daughters Janna (Scot) Bogle of Wichita, KS, Joellan (Colin) Chang of Bloomington, IN, and son David Muyskens of Wichita, KS. He is also survived by three sisters, Bernice Meagor of El Cerrito, CA, Lois Parrott of Dallas, TX, and Sabrinah Muyskens-Wetzler of El Granada, CA; a brother, James Muyskens (Alda) of Salt Lake City, UT; a sister-in-law, Donna Muyskens of Grand Rapids, MI; five grandchildren, Adara (Steven) Tiedeman, Daetyn Bogle, Brailee Bogle, Owen Chang, and Sam Chang; two step-grandchildren Sierra Razzaq and John Bogle, four great grandchildren, and one step-great grandchild; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his eldest brother, Rev. Dr. J. David Muyskens of Grand Rapids, MI.

A Celebration of Life will be held at West Heights United Methodist Church, 745 N. Westlink, Wichita, KS on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 1:00 pm. The family invites you to join them for a time of fellowship and refreshments following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to West Heights United Methodist Church; Haiti Hope Foundation; or Alzheimer’s Association, Central & Western Kansas, 535 W. Douglas, Suite 150, Wichita, KS 67213.

Go rest high on that mountain. Son, your work on earth is done.

Arrangements through Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.