Louie Sytsma finished his race, passing away suddenly and peacefully on Sept. 29, 2017. Louie was a faithful husband, loving father and grandfather.
Born June 11, 1926 in the small town of Ee in Friesland, the Netherlands, he immigrated to the United States in 1950 after serving three years in the Dutch army in Indonesia. At age 24, he moved to Artesia, California, to join his family in an entirely new country. Louie was employed as a milker for John Vanderham Dairy in the Artesia area. After long days of milking, he looked forward to Thursday night at the Paramount Skating Rink for Dutch Skate Night. It was here that he met a young lady by the name of Jennie Schaap, who lit up the room and would change his heart and life forever.
Louie and Jennie were married on Dec. 16, 1953. They worked hard and started their own dairy business after marriage and soon started a family as well. In 1965 Louie and Jennie were able to purchase a new dairy farm and home in Chino, California. All five of their children were raised in Chino, surrounded by a wonderful community. In 1982 Louie and Jennie relocated his dairy business to North Bellingham in Washington State, where he continued his work as a milk producer until his retirement in 1988. Louie spoke fondly of Holland and visited his homeland frequently, always enjoying his favorite salted herring. He loved Jennie, and anyone who ever stopped by the Sytsma home around 10 a.m. knew they were welcome to join him and Jennie for their daily morning coffee. A dairy farmer never really retires, and Louie enjoyed seeing his friends at the weekly cow auction and working on the farm until his health would no longer allow it.
Louie’s faith in God was important to him and he cherished the knowledge that his children and grandchildren were walking in truth. He served as elder at his church in Lynden and faithfully attended, supported and loved the Bethel Christian Reformed Church family.
Louie would often exclaim “What a blessing!” when reminded that, by the grace of God, he had nearly 64 years of marriage with Jennie or that he had reached the age of 91.
Louie is survived by his loving wife, Jennie; sons Andy (Debi) Sytsma, Eddy (Mary) Sytsma, Willie (Anne) Sytsma, Fred (Carolyn) Sytsma and daughter Dorothy (Ed) Nowakowski. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; his brother Al (Edith) Sytsma; and other relatives Patricia Sytsma, Andy (Ria) Schaap, Mary Goedhart and Richard Schaap.
Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Andy and Dorothy Sytsma; brothers Bob and Cornie Sytsma and two infant brothers; brothers-in-law Fred Schaap and Hugo Goedhart and in-laws Id’s and Shirley Schaap.
You are invited to join the family for a time of visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, in Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside will be at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Monumenta Cemetery, followed by a 2 p.m. memorial service in Bethel Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Steve Van Noort officiating.
Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to the Lighthouse Mission Ministries, P.O. Box 548, Bellingham, WA 98227-0548; or Lynden Christian Schools, 417 Lyncs Drive, Lynden, WA 98264.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
