Dirk Nieuwenhuis

Dirk Nieuwenhuis, 65 years old, passed away peacefully in Boise, Idaho, on July 23rd, 2024. In his last days, he was surrounded by family and friends who lovingly ushered him into eternal life. Though we deeply grieve the loss of someone so very special, we find peace knowing Dirk is now with his maker. Dirk was a faithful husband, father, opa, son, brother, uncle, friend, and relentless servant for the Kingdom of God.

Dirk was born to Neal and Alice Nieuwenhuis on February 23, 1959, in Haarlem, the Netherlands. He was raised in a God-fearing household where faith, hope, and love were instilled in him from a very young age. Though Dirk would reference being a lukewarm Christian in previous seasons of his life, he boldly spent the last decade running a race of reckless abandonment for Jesus. His redemption story was proof of God's transforming and redeeming power.

Dirk was dedicated to the gospel and committed to winning souls for heaven. He knew who he was because of Whose he was. If you were around him for any amount of time, you would hear him say with great enthusiasm, "Praise the Lord God Almighty" and "Hallelujah". His joy was palpable, and you couldn't walk away without having a fresh perspective or newfound hope. Dirk tried to add value to every encounter he had.

Dirk not only spent his days with deep intentionality but was also hilarious and brought so much laughter and fun to any setting. He was the life of every party, and even his humor was life-giving. Dirk loved his family and chosen family fiercely. He was passionate about locking arms with his brothers in Christ through the ministry of Soldiers of the Cross, Modesto. He had the gift of mercy, making sure everyone had a seat at the table.

Dirk is survived by his wife, Wilma; children, LeeAnn (John), Dirk Jr. (Sierra), Scott (Megan), and Trevor (Kassi); grandchildren, Dirk, Riley, Mia, Aven, Nellie, Cora, Grady, Hazel, and Abigail; parents, Neal and Alice; and siblings, Robert (Joan, Kirk, Krista), Renee (Steve, Jessica, Michael, Joylyn), and Rodney.

A celebration of life will be held at Escalon Christian Reformed Church, 2203 California Street, Escalon, CA 95320, on August 24th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Soldiers of the Cross, Modesto. There will be a luncheon and open mic following the ceremony. All are warmly welcomed to come and celebrate the life of one incredible man.

Though Dirk is no longer with us in body, the heartbeat of heaven he carried will live on in those who had the privilege of loving him. As Dirk would always say, "COUNT IT ALL JOY."