Ira John Hesselink Jr. (March 21, 1928 – October 28, 2018) was an American theologian, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

[1][2] An expert in John Calvin, he was Albertus C. Van Raalte Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan.

[1] After his retirement, he was an honorary professor and continued to write a few books on John Calvin and lecture in Europe, South Korea, and Japan.

He was a Dutch American theologian who served as a missionary in Japan after receiving theological education at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan.

[6] Hesselink is survived by the family he loved: Etta, his wife of 67 years; five children and two grandchildren: John III (Nicaragua and Holland, MI), Ann (Del Mar, CA - husband Paul Naour and daughter Katherine Hesselink Hicks), Jud (Martinez, CA), Nathan (Vancouver, BC - wife Serra Hwang and son Braque) and Greg (New York, NY) - all of whom the carry-on his love of knowledge, music and the world at-large.