Gys B Kooy

Gys Kooy, age 94, of Mahwah, NJ., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Gys was born in the Netherlands and emigrated to the U.S. as a young man with his family, after WWII. Shortly after arriving, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served in a MASH unit in Korea. Upon returning, he established his landscape design business. He married Elske A. Lootsma, also from the Netherlands, and started a family.

Gys continued to build the landscape firm (Kooy and Sons). The business flourished with the help of his family, and it carries on today. While working, he pursued his studies and received a Landscape Architect degree from Rutgers University.

Gys was devoted to family, church, nature and community. He instilled these values in his family. He and Els were founding members of Children's Haven Group Care Home in Paterson. He was very active with the United Presbyterian Church, and taught Sunday School. He supported many humanitarian and environmental causes throughout his life. He enjoyed travelling to many different countries, and was interested in learning about their way of life. Gys had a love of poetry and art.

Gys was predeceased by his wife, Els, as well as his second wife, Jeanette Bos, and his daughter, Veronica Smith. He is survived by his children: Perry (Cynthia), Bertus (Julie), Erwin (Jeanene), Myra (Kate), Jeffrey, and stepson, Robert Buzas (Rebecca). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is survived by his brothers, Hans and Peter, and sisters, Willy, and Betsy. He was predeceased by his sisters, Tina and Frieda.

Visiting hours are 2:00 to 6:00pm on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Funeral Service is 10:30am on Monday, at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Redeemer Cemetery in Mahwah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations/contributions in Gys's memory, may be made to your preferred charity, one that makes the world a better place.