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Timothy Alan Eysselinck

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Timothy Eysselinck Obituary

Timothy Alan Eysselinck Timothy Alan Eysselinck, 40, a contractor for humanitarian de-mining in Africa and Iraq, died Friday, April 21, 2004, at his home in Windhoek, Namibia. He is survived by his mother, Janet Burroway (and husband Peter Ruppert) of Tallahassee. The memorial service will be in Windhoek. Tim was born in Ghent, Belgium, on Feb. 24, 1964. When he was two years old he traveled with his parents to Sussex, England, where his father, Walter Eysselinck, became director of Gardner Centre for the Arts and his mother, Janet Burroway, was a lecturer in English literature at the University of Sussex. In 1972, Tim moved with his mother and his little brother, Tobyn Alexander, to Tallahassee. He attended Caroline Brevard, Sabal Palm and Raa Middle and Leon High schools. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in history. At UF, he was a member of the ROTC and joined the Army after graduation, where he stayed for four years, becoming a Ranger and a captain. In 1994, he left the Army and worked for Wackenhut Corp., operating security for the embassies and multinationals in Cameroon. He remained an officer in the Reserves, stationed at Stuttgart, Germany, from where he was deployed to Bosnia, Republic of the Congo and Namibia. In Namibia he ran a U.S. humanitarian de-mining operation to clear unexploded ordnance from the power lines between Namibia and Angola. There he met Birgitt Coetzee and they were married on the evening of the millennium New Year. Tim became stepfather to Neal Uys. A year later, in January 2001, Thyra Jessica Eysselinck was born to them. The family spent two years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Tim ran a de-mining operation for the U.S. government for RONCO Consulting Corp. In 2003, also for RONCO, he headed a team in Iraq where he taught a corps of 90 Iraqi forces to de-mine building sites for schools and housing. He is survived by his wife, Birgitt; a son, Neal; a daughter, Thyra; a brother; a stepsister, Anne Lindsay Ruppert; and his stepmother, Barbara Eysselinck, and his siblings, Benjamin and Anna Eysselinck.

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Published by Tallahassee Democrat on Apr. 28, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Timothy Eysselinck

15 Entries

Cale Brewin

May 24, 2004

We will remember Tim as the knight in shining armour who swept our friend Birgitt off her feet and filled her heart with love, as the handsome man, who stood tall and proud beside his newly wedded wife in their african fairytale wedding at the turn of the millenium in the mountains of Namibia, as the proud husband and father who loved and adored his family, and as the man who devoted a great part of his life to saving lives by making the earth we stand on a safer place through his efforts in demining. He will be missed.

We wish all of his family lots of stength in this sad time.

Love Knolles Green and Cale Brewin

Aklilu M.Metaferia

May 24, 2004

What a loss!!

Tim was not only a humorous and intelligent friend, but also a responsible and loving head of family. He loved his jobsand carried out assignments with great diligence even if it meant working with landmines in African Jungles or in a very hostile environment-Iraq.

I don’t know what to say when such an appalling incident occurs. It is a loss to his family, friends and country. Many gaps remain open in his absence. If this is the only time allotted to have Tim as a friend, I will keep those memories from Addis Ababa with me as far as I am alive.

God rest him in peace

Amen.

Rianne Selle

May 23, 2004

My daughter, Jade-Louise (14),described Tim's entering our lives much better than I can in a poem,The Stranger, the night of his death.

In six years Tim became family, part of our daily lives, even with him, Birgitt, Thyra and Neal outside Namibia, the land he loved as much as we did.

We recall so much: hitting his head against the candle holder at the table the night they met, the happiness when the proposal in the desert met a yes! the pride of the "workhorse" his Iraqui colleagues gave him, his wicked delivery of an Afrikaans phrase in a David vs Goliath case against Standard Bank in Namibia, love and pride in his family and friends, his support, the turn of phrase in an official letter, and, above all, his eyes, we now see mirrored in Thyra.

Rianne and family, Namibia

Gill Erwin

May 21, 2004

I miss my friend, and feel a hollowness in the thought that we won't be able to share any future tales of adventure. Nonetheless, I have many fond memories of the time we spent together: from our first acquaintance at Leon High School, to rooming together at UF, to holiday visits in Tallahassee, even to meeting for dinner in Germany. Tim always maintained loyalty to his close friends, despite the miles of separation. I hope we can sustain Tim's sense of adventure, his wit, his appreciation for the finer things, and his genuineness.

Melissa Rehder

May 15, 2004

Dear Janet and family,

I send my deepest condolences to you in regards to Tim's passing. I have many fond memories of Tim when he, Alex, Rachel, myself and my brother were young crazy kids. Of course, Tim was older and seemed almost an adult to me. He always seemed confident, friendly and very intelligent. I wish I had known him better.

Tim will always be with you and all those who have crossed paths with him. I send you warmth, love and strength during this time.

With love,

Melissa

Ana-marijke Eysselinck

May 10, 2004

So many a time, Tim tipped his hat and scoffed at death. So many a time he raised his hat to life.

Mike Hartling

May 6, 2004

It is with a sadend heart that I write this entry..Tim was a good friend and Boss..we at IMCO/RONCO project Iraq have lost a member of our project family and he will be missed by all. Go will God

Marshall Atkinson

April 30, 2004

I am truly shocked and saddened by the loss of Tim. He was a wonderful person, who seemed to live his life on his own special terms. I met Tim at Leon High School, and saw him over the years here in Tallahassee. He played poker at my house off and on for a number of years, and seemed to always have a "new" game that he would invent. The last time I saw him was of course, his visit for McBride's wedding. He still could tell a great story and make you laugh. I will really miss Tim. My thoughts and best wishes go out to his entire family and to everyone who his life touched.

Joan Millett

April 29, 2004

I will keep Tim and his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Judy Miller

April 29, 2004

Dr. Burroway,

I was truly saddened to learn of Tim's death. Having been at Leon High School for 33 years, I have seen many students come and go. Tim is one of those who stands tall in my memory. He was incredibly bright and a delight to have had in class. It was my priviledge to have taught him. I hope that all who knew and loved him will find comfort in many wonderful memories. My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family.

MAJ John Rogers

April 28, 2004

Tim's death is a terrible thing. Let us try to remember the good things he brough to the world.

Rest in peace, brother Ranger.

Priscilla Lindsey Biddle

April 28, 2004

Dear Dr. Burroway,

Please accept my heartfelt grief at the loss of Tim. I remember Tim and John and all their friends fondly in my memories of my first year of teaching at Leon. They were good sports as I learned my craft-- and they were fun to teach with able minds and wry senses of humor. As the mother of sons of my own, I mourn his loss for his mom. Interestingly, the literature book we use here in Richmond has a forward by you in it. I always remark to my students that I taught your sons -- connections in the tapestry that bind us all together.

Sarah Lindsey-Holmes

April 28, 2004

I was so deeply saddened to hear about Tim. It's been several years since I saw him -- but I have many happy memories of Tim at Leon High School along with John McBride and Rick Parker. He was a student of my sister, then Priscilla Broen, in one of her first years as an english teacher at Leon. He was always so lively, bright and interesting. I'm happy to have known him.

Bayard Stern

April 28, 2004

Dear Janet,

I am so saddened by Tim's death. I wish you, Alex and Peter all the best in your grief.

Tim was always nice to me when I spent so much time at your house with Alex. I remember thinking how cool I thought Tim was because he had the best things like skates and built incredible models. He also gave me a great collection of GI Joes which I played with for years. Tim never made me feel like a little kid or a pest when I was around. Albeit, he did keep me at arms length, this only added to his mystique for me. When I spoke to him over the last few years, he was very kind and told me some great stories.

Love to all of you, Bayard

Rick Parker

April 28, 2004

I'm so shocked by this. I last saw Tim and his wife at John McBride's wedding. He seemed just like his old self. What a horrible and tragic loss.

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