Aileen Velthuis

Aileen Mae Kikkert Velthuis, age 94, of Woodbridge, Virginia, entered heaven on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

Aileen was born on April 8, 1931, in Munster, Indiana, the firstborn child of Cornelius and Alice Kikkert. She was born in the house she grew up in, a house built before the Civil War which had no electricity or plumbing for a large portion of her childhood.

She attended Christian schools throughout her life, graduating from Illiana Christian School and becoming the first and only member of her family to attend college. She graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, completing the four-year program in just three years by working and studying through the summers.

She met Henry Visscher while he was in seminary at Calvin College, and they married in 1953. Aileen taught elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for three years until the birth of their first son, Steve, in 1955. She served faithfully as a pastor's wife for nearly 20 years, dedicating herself to her family and the Christian Reformed Church.

In 1972, she returned to the workforce, taking on roles as a receptionist, realtor, and sales associate for several title companies.

In 1979, she met Philip Velthuis - the love of her life - who was a real estate client and friend from church. They married in 1980, and Aileen began her journey as a military wife, moving from Walnut Creek, California, to Marietta, Georgia, and eventually settling in Burke, Virginia, where they made their home for over 40 years.

Aileen and Phil shared a love of travel and cruises. She found joy in connecting with family by phone, visiting cousins in Indiana, sending greeting cards, reading the news and comics, caring for pets and plants, and being active in her church community. At Grace Church, she served with humility and joy - teaching Sunday School and VBS, caring for children in the nursery, serving during coffee hour, and participating in Bible studies.

Aileen had a passion for re-purposing, which led to her volunteer work with Wheels for the World, a ministry of Joni and Friends. For over a decade, she collected used wheelchairs throughout the D.C. area - more than 4,000 wheelchairs- making her their most successful volunteer. These wheelchairs were repaired and distributed to people in need around the world.

Aileen is preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius Kikkert and Alice Jabaay; her siblings, Delmar Kikkert (and his wife, Nadiene) and Roy Kikkert; her son, Steven Visscher; and her first husband, Henry Visscher.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Philip Velthuis; her children Dee (Ray) Tuohy, Greg (Kim) Visscher, Kristin (Joe) Burns, and Ryan (Erin Rose) Velthuis; and her grandchildren:

Spencer Tuohy (Gaby) and their children, Ireland and Maeve

Brendan Tuohy (Katelyn) and their children, Torin and Bodie

Kelsey Tuohy, Grady Tuohy, Riley Visscher, Tori Burns, Megan Burns, Ian Velthuis, and Colin Velthuis

Interment will take place at Quantico National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 6, at 2:30 p.m. at Grace Christian Reformed Church, 9800 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wheels for the World:

https://joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/