Harold G. Visser went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. He was 86 years old. Harold was born in Cawker City, Kansas, on Nov. 13, 1928, to parents Peter and Martha (Wickers) Visser. He was one of eight children. The family moved to the Lynden area where he attended Ebenezer Christian School and Nooksack Valley schools. Harold noticed Joyce Stuurmans at church and again during softball games at the fairgrounds. Soon after, he joined the U.S. Marines and kept courting her through letters and phone calls until his return. During his three years with the Marines, he served in California and Guam. He also drove tank in the John Wayne classic movie “Sands of Iwo Jima.” After his return, Harold and Joyce were married on May 16, 1950, and had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Upon returning home from the service, Harold worked at the Shell station on Front Street and later purchased it. After selling the Shell service station, he went to work for Ed Hofman, who owned the Texaco bulk plant on Grover Street. He eventually purchased the business from Ed and it went on to be known as Visser Oil. Harold retired in 2002 when Visser Oil merged with Whatcom Farmers Co-op. Though retired, he would stop in daily to see what was going on. Harold was a member of the Lynden Volunteer Fire
Department for 25 years and on the reserve Lynden police force. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, sports and most of all just being with his family. He was a member of Faith Reformed Church.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Don and Martin; sisters Henrietta Olin, Bernice Van Dalen and Dorothy Posthuma; brother-in-law Marv Stuurmans; and sister-in-law Elaine Matter.
He is survived by wife Joyce; children Pam (Jed) Langstraat, Dawn (Jerryl) Langstraat, Cheryl (Gary) Baar and Kevin (Lori) Visser, all of Lynden; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers Bernard Visser and George (Gladys) Visser; brother-in-law Stu (Lue) Stuurmans; sister-in-law Julia Stuurmans; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A public visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, at Gillies Funeral Home. The graveside committal is at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, at Monumenta Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. in Faith Reformed Church, 300 Seventh St., Lynden.
Memorials may be made to Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225; the Peace Health Cancer Center, 3301 Squalicum Pkwy., Bellingham, WA 98225; or Faith Reformed Church.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
