Howard Alvin Haveman, age 89, went to be with his Lord on Dec. 28, 2017, after a year-long decline in health, at Regency on Whidbey. He was born on May 10, 1928 in Lynden to John and Elsie (Bovendam) Haveman and attended public school in Lynden.
Howard was a World War II Army veteran and served with the occupation forces in Japan from May 2, 1946, until his honorable discharge on Oct. 23, 1947.
He moved to Oak Harbor in 1949 and worked on the farm of his brother-in-law, Jake Rip, for five years. He was married to Gertrude Rip on April 27, 1951, in Oak Harbor, where they raised their three sons.
After five years on the farm, he went to work for the Island County Road Department as a truck driver and equipment operator. He worked for Island County for 28 years after which he began work for Krieg Construction as a rock crusher operator. He worked for Krieg Construction for 20 years until he retired in 2002 at age 74.
Howard enjoyed camping and fishing. raising steers, yard work and gardening. He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and, above all, he loved and served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a member of First Reformed Church in Lynden until his move to Oak Harbor, where he joined the Christian Reformed Church in 1950. He became a charter member of Sovereign Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1998 and was an active member until his death.
Howard was preceded in death in 2011 by his wife, Gertrude, and by one brother and six sisters.
He is survived by his three sons, Ronald (Carol) Haveman of Marysville, and Steven and Randall Haveman, both of Oak Harbor; grandson Bradley (Jana) Haveman and great-grandchildren Micah, Olivia and Samantha of Edmonton, Alberta; grandson Travis (Darla) Haveman and great-grandchildren Danielle, Tanner and Jade of Ripon, California; and granddaughter Tamara (Bradley) Kuklenski of Bellevue; also brother Norman (Gerry) Haveman of Oak Harbor.
Graveside funeral services for family and close friends were held in Fircrest Cemetery, Oak Harbor, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. A memorial service and reception followed at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Robert Van Kooten officiating.
Pallbearers were Ron de Ru, Rudie Duysings, Bryan Duysings, Malcolm Huston, Steve Thompson and Brian Weaver, beloved members of the Sovereign Grace church family.
Arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation in Oak Harbor.
