George Van Achte

  It is with a heavy heart that we, George Bernard Van Achte’s family, are informing you that George passed away on the evening of Oct. 27, 2015. The Lord took him to Heaven quickly as his heart just gave out. He was 84 years old.
  George was born on April 4, 1931, in Swan Lake, Manitoba, Canada. George was the eldest child born to Victor Van Achte (born in Desteldonck, Belgium, in 1910) and Anna Koppen Van Achte (born in Barneveld, Holland, in 1909). George is survived by his brother Lorne Van Achte and sisters Evelyn DeKoninck, Bernice Pouteau, Isabel McKinney and Maureen Gimpelj, all of the greater Winnipeg, Manitoba, area. His brother Jerry died in 1949.
  George met Maria Wiebe in 1953 in Winnipeg. At that time George was a journeyman lineman and Maria an LPN. They married on Dec. 28, 1953. In 1955 they had their first son, Randall Wayne. Shortly after his birth, they moved to British Columbia. Daughter Penny Ann and son Mark Aloise were born there.
  George is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maria; daughter Penny Van Achte-La Sac (spouse Leonard La Sac); son Mark Van Achte (spouse Lesli Van Achte); six grandchildren, Benjamin, Martine Mary, Joseph, Luke, Conor and Kelly; and three great-grandchildren.
  George’s eldest son Randall Wayne and grandson Markus preceded him in death.
  George moved his family to Bremerton in 1961 after securing a journeyman lineman position with Puget Power. In 1963 George moved his family to the town of Lynden after accepting a transfer to work at Puget Power in Lynden where he then lived for 52 years.
  George said often that moving his family to the community of Lynden was one of the greatest decisions of his life. He often told his family and friends how much the community meant to him, how accepted he felt. In his pre-retirement years the farmers knew George for driving his Puget Power line truck to their farms to restore power as soon as possible. He enjoyed membership in the Lynden Jaycees, he managed the Whatcom County girls softball leagues, and he coached many years of youth basketball. For several years he was involved with the D.A.R.E. program and provided outreach in the Whatcom County schools and developed a program called “Lion George Says Put the Axe to Drugs.”
  By the time George reached retirement in 1993 from Puget Power, he had already received the 1992 Sol H. Lewis Community Award (North Whatcom County Man of the Year) from the Lynden Tribune, was heavily involved in the Lions Club as president as well as the Lynden Community Center and his church. He often facilitated men’s spiritual groups. George’s retirement highlight was when he joined the Lynden Toastmasters Club #66 where he constantly worked on his own personal development, participated as the president of the club and developed a knack for storytelling. George’s recent venture, just this year, was becoming the facilitator of the Lynden Community Center’s weekly group called “Hot Topics.” He loved learning and debating.
  George was loved. George loved others. We will miss him terribly.
  Please join us in a celebration of his life on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, at 2 p.m. in Crosspoint Church of the Nazarene, 8686 Vinup Rd., Lynden, with a reception following.
  In lieu of flowers or gifts please consider donating to the Lynden Community Center, a place where George went three to four or more times a week.