Gerald "Jerry" Dykstra

1926 - 2013

Gerald "Jerry" Dykstra, 86, of W4454 Center Street, Hingham died Thursday October 24, 2013 at the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice Center with his family by his side.

Jerry was born on December 26, 1926 to the late John and Anna (Holstein) Dykstra. Jerry served in the United States Army. On March 3, 1951 he married Lillian Hesselink in Cedar Grove. Jerry was a maintenance supervisor at Dean Foods, formerly known as the Larsen Company for 37 years.

Jerry was a member of Hingham Reformed Church where he served as Elder, Deacon and a RCYF counselor. He was also a member of the church choir and men's chorus. Jerry was in the Gibbsville Golf League, Retired Men's bowling league as well as couple's bowling. Jerry enjoyed traveling, gardening, shopping, collecting antiques, woodworking, doing word puzzles, renovating his home, building his own tractor and he loved spending time with his family.

Jerry is survived by his wife Lillian; four daughters, Joan (Wendell) Mentink of Oostburg, Gail (Ron) Arentsen of Oostburg, Nancy (Jim) Meyer of Gibbsville and Sue (Bruce "Ed") Nyenhuis of Oostburg; 12 grandchildren, Brad (Kris) Mentink, Brian (Faith) Mentink, Jodi Peper, Kelly (Bob) Prom, Scott Arentsen, Jon (Jenny) Arentsen, Ryan Arentsen, Sherri (Tristan) Hayes, Jennifer (Tom) TeStroete, Nate (Tina) Meyer, Jeremy (Shelly) Nyenhuis and Melissa Nyenhuis; 18 great-grandchildren, Kayla, Rachel, Justin, Riley, Gabrielle and Delainey Mentink, Taylor Peper, Hailey and Brayden Prom, Alexis Arentsen, Josh and Abby TeStroete, Dakota, Camryn, Makenzie and Marley Meyer, Chase Lombardi and Cayden Nyenhuis; 1 sister, Marge (John) TenDolle of Sheboygan Falls, 3 brothers, Ralph Dykstra of Waldo, Robert (Lou) Dykstra of St. Paul, MN, John (Linda) Dykstra of Holland, MI; 2 sisters-in-law, Minnie Dykstra of Hingham and Jeanette Dulmes of Hingham; 1 brother-in-law Eugene Wassink of Waldo . Jerry is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law Abe and Delia Hesselink, 4 brothers and sisters-in-law, Cornelius (Bernice) Dykstra, Henry (Elsie) Dykstra, Beverly Dykstra, Sidney Dykstra and Willard Dykstra; 1 sister, Sylvia Wassink; brothers and sisters-in-law, Vernon (Leora) Hesselink, Lloyd (Romell) Hesselink, Derwin Dulmes and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services to celebrate Jerry's life will be on Monday October 28, 2013 at Hingham Reformed Church at 11am with Rev. Steven Bakker officiating. A family service will take place at 10:45am. Burial will follow at the Hingham Cemetery in the town of Lima.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 4-8pm at The Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg and again at church Monday from 10am until the time of service.

A Memorial Fund has been established in Jerry's name for the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice Center and Hingham Reformed Church.

For online condolences and additional information please visit www.wenigfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank the staff of the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice Center for all of their love and care that they gave Jerry.