Andrew Struiksma

1922 - 2014

Andrew W. Struiksma was born on Oct. 20, 1922 in a sod house in Tyndall, SD, to William and Autze (Rienstra) Struiksma. He grew up on a farm in Avon, SD with his parents, two brothers and a sister. When he was 14 years old, most of their belongings were sold at a public auction, including Andy's Shetland pony. The auctioneer stopped the auction so Andy and his mom could say goodbye to the pony for the last time. From there, they moved to Everson, WA, and then to Sumas where they farmed. Andy graduated from Clearbrook grade school in 1938. During WW2, he worked for Mike Tjoelker on his farm. On Sept. 10, 1946, he married Sadie DeJong. They were married for 64 years, until her passing in 2010. They bought a farm on the Everson-Goshen Rd., where they lived and farmed for 42 years. He dairy farmed, but his first love would have been raising beef cattle. In 1989, they sold the farm and built a house on Front. St. in Lynden. Andy received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in 1954 as a result of listening to Charles E. Fuller and the Old Fashioned Revival Hour on the radio. He then joined Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Lynden. At his home-going, he was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Bellingham. Andy was a usher for many years and served as a deacon, which he enjoyed very much. He also taught Sunday School at the Lynden church. Andy enjoyed old-time Gospel music, but he also liked to listen to Gene Autry and Wilf Carter sing the old country-western songs. Andy was predeceased by his wife Sadie, his parents, his brothers David and John, and sister Bertha Wiersma,. He is survived by his 5 children: daughter Annetta and husband Gary Small of Lynden, son Wilbur and wife Annette Struiksma of Lynden, daughter Esther and husband Tim Neufeld of Tacoma, son Ivan and wife Sharon Struiksma of Custer, and Jerry and wife Margie Struiksma of Custer. In addition, Andy is survived by 20 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 1, from 6 to 8 PM at Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden. Burial will be on Wednesday, July 2, at 1 PM at Monumenta Cemetery in Lynden, followed by a memorial service at 2:30 PM at Grace Baptist Church, 3920 James Street Road in Bellingham. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Andy's name may be made to the Christian Health Care Center 855 Aaron Dr. Lynden, WA 98264 or The Hospital of Hope in Mango, Togo, West Africa, c/o ABWE, P.O. Box 8585, Harrisburg, PA 17105, account #0763803. You are invited to share your memories and condolences in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.