Gerrit Dykstra, of Lynden, was taken to his Heavenly home on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, at the age of 84.
The second child of Wijbren “William” and Zwaantje “Swany” (Kooij) Dykstra, Gerrit was born Nov. 22, 1939, in Oosterend, Friesland, the Netherlands, where he resided with his siblings: Jacob, Bernard, Peter, Margaret, and Dick. In 1953, the Dykstra family immigrated to the U.S., where Gerrit attended elementary school in Artesia, California, and Bellflower Christian Jr. High School in Bellflower, California. After the ninth grade, Gerrit began working with his father and older brother to help support the family in establishing themselves in the United States. Gerrit completed his GED while serving with the Army National Guard, and then pursued a love of architectural drafting by independently learning through library books.
In 1958, the family moved north to Everson, Washington, where Gerrit met his future bride at church. He married Cornelia (Abrahamse) Dykstra on June 19, 1968, at Faith Reformed Church in Lynden, and together they had three sons: Neal, Will, and Robert.
Gerrit began his construction career working for Evergreen Builders. Purchasing the company in 1964, he then established Dykstra Construction Services. Later in 1995, he started Columbia Cabinets Northwest to supplement the high-end construction work he was doing. Gerrit earned multiple fine homebuilding awards with his work featured in books, magazines, and other trade publications.
After a day at work, you would find Gerrit busy with other small projects for friends or family, working the soil tending his vegetable garden, or pruning his roses. He was a huge supporter of his family, whether that was attending his son’s school events, taking an interest in their work achievements, or just being Pake. Gerrit served multiple terms on the Lynden Christian school board and multiple terms of elder and deacon at Faith Reformed Church.
Gerrit is preceded in death by brothers Jake and Berny.
Gerrit is survived by his wife of 55 years, Cornelia Dykstra; son Neal (Cindy) Dykstra and their children, Cody, Riley, Mackenzie (Kale) Arthun, and Dylan; son Will (Diane) Dykstra and their children, Emily, Annika, Elizabeth, and Isabelle; and son Rob (Liz) Dykstra and their children, Benjamin, Jude, and Olivia. He will be greatly missed by his siblings, Pete (Lois) Dykstra, Margaret Dykstra, and Dick Dykstra, and sisters-in-law, Claudette Sterk, Vicky Dykstra and Maurine Lautenbach.
You are invited to join the family on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at 2 p.m. for a memorial service at Faith Reformed Church/Victory Christian Fellowship, 300 7th St., Lynden.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
