Herman Van Zonneveld, of Lynden, was called home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, June 22, 2015. He was 86 years old. Herman was born on Oct. 31, 1928, in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, the only child to Willem and Neeltje (Passchier) Van Zonneveld. Herman immigrated to the United States in 1947.
Herman met and eventually married Alice Bosma in 1950 and together they had three children: William, Nelene and Bill. The family moved to California in 1957, living in Chula Vista until 2004. After Alice passed in January 2004, Herman moved to Lynden to be near his son and family, and subsequently married Beatrice Hemple in 2006, who passed away in August 2013.
Herman attended one year at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. For 40 years, he was a self-employed owner/operator of Van’s Holland Imports, which served customers in the Greater San Diego area.
Throughout his life, Herman was an active member in the Christian Reformed Church, serving the Lord as Sunday school teacher, in youth leadership and council in various congregations. Herman was an avid artist, enjoying the craft of oil painting of nature scenes and old Dutch landscapes and villages. Herm was very fond of animals, loved to sail and travel on camping vacations with family.
Herman was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Alice; son William Richard; and second wife, Beatrice.
He is survived by children Nelene (Piet lll) Westerbeek and Bill (Sandy) Van Zonneveld; grandchildren Pieter Westerbeek lV, Nicholas Westerbeek, Craig Westerbeek, Kaeli DeVries, Brielle Van Zonneveld and Sophia Van Zonneveld; great-grandchildren Jocelyn Westerbeek, Pieter V. Westerbeek, Joshua Westerbeek, James Westerbeek, Ian Westerbeek, Noah Westerbeek, Nathan Westerbeek, David Westerbeek, Teyla De Vries and Rebecca Westerbeek; and numerous other family and friends.
Herman’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2015, in Second Christian Reformed Church, 113 S. Eighth St., Lynden.
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.
