Sybren (Sy) Lautenbach passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.
Sy was born in Toppenhuizen, Friesland, the Netherlands, on June 5, 1938 to Jacob and Winnie Lautenbach (Fopma). He attended school in the Netherlands through the third grade and then immigrated with his family in June 1947 to Everson, Washington, and attended Lynden Christian School, graduating from Nooksack High School in 1956.
It was through the FFA program at Nooksack, with Lewis Porter as his teacher, that Sy’s interest in registered Holsteins began.
In 1963 he married Harriet Van Weerdhuizen and together they farmed at their Win-Fran Holstein Dairy on Telegraph Road, where they raised their family and lived for 53 years. Sy and Harriet retired to Nooksack in February 2016.
Sy was a committed and dedicated member of Nooksack Valley Reformed Church for 63 years. He attended faithfully and had a deep knowledge of the Bible. He served the church as deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher and helped Harriet maintain the church yard. He served on boards and committees for Sumas Christian School, Lynden Christian School, Sumas Rural Water Association, Sumas River projects, All West Breeders and Words of Hope and he was a 40-year member of the Registered Holstein Association. Sy also was a longtime volunteer for the paper baling program at Lynden Christian.
Sy is survived by his wife, Harriet; three children, daughter Sandy (Steve) Van Der Vliet and sons Dennis/DL (Randi) Lautenbach and Dean (Jennifer) Lautenbach; grand- and great-grandchildren who lovingly called him Pake: Emily (Darrin Van Weerdhuizen) Aleks, Eli and Olivia, Brendon (Melinda) Van Der Vliet, Luke (fiancée Brittney) Van Der Vliet, Kobi, Kase, Jake, Max and Sy Lautenbach; sister-in-law Maurine Lautenbach; brothers Ralph (Donna) Lautenbach, Ted (Diane) Lautenbach, Gordie Lautenbach; sister Fran (Paul) Rockwell; in-laws Jane (Chuck) Zuverink, Femmie (Dale) Rutgers, Gerrit (Donna) Van Weerdhuizen, Sharon Van Weerdhuizen, Herm (Cindy) Van Weerdhuizen and Carl (Gayle) Van Weerdhuizen; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jake and sister Fokje; brothers-in-law Arie and his wife Mary Van Weerdhuizen, and Pete Van Weerdhuizen.
Memorial services will be held in the Nooksack Valley Reformed Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, with Pastor Chuck Kleinhesselink officiating. Private family burial precedes in Nooksack Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Words of Hope, whose mission is to help build the church worldwide through media. Memorials may be sent in care of the Nooksack Valley Reformed Church, P.O. Box 2367, Nooksack, WA 98276.
Please 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.
