Gerrit Van Dam was born to Henry and Wilhelmina (Vander Broek) Van Dam on December 10, 1903 on a farm two miles northeast of Edgerton, Minnesota. He attended country school a couple of miles from his home. When Gerrit was a teenager, the family moved to a farm several miles north where they lived until 1926. Then, the family moved to a farm north of Chandler, Minnesota. On September 12, 1928, Gerrit was united in marriage to Dorothy Kooiman. Following their marriage, the first farm they lived at was near Lake Wilson, Minnesota, and later they moved to a farm northwest of Chandler. In 1939, they moved to a farm near Woodstock, Minnesota in which they settled as "home". They resided there until 1984 when they moved into Edgerton. Less than two years ago, Gerrit and Dorothy entered Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton where Gerrit resided until his death on July 14, 2001 at the age of 97 years, 7 months and 4 days.
Over the years, Gerrit and his family identified strongly with the Chandler Christian Reformed church and community. One of Gerrit's deepest interests was family. As a grandparent, hundreds of extra miles were commonly made to stop by a grandchild who had married and wandered off to North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and other places. Gerrit and Dorothy both enjoyed getting away and traveling. They usually spent some time each winter in southern California. They did this for about fifty years, only missing one or two times during these years.
An interest that developed later in life for the Van Dams was volunteer service. Both volunteered at several christian schools and ministries in the Southwest. Their involvement led to many special friendships that were enjoyed for many years. Gerrit was deeply interested in people and helping others with their needs, problems or hurts. His approach was typically open, and direct, but always tempered with compassion.
Gerrit will be missed most by his wife Dorothy, who resides at Edgebrook care Center; six children, Wilma Grootwassink, Alice and Harold Van Essen, Rev. Harry and Tressa Van Dam, Dorothy and John Van Essen, Gertrude and Harold Jasper; all who reside in Edgerton, and Carol and Marvin Struiksma of Artesia, California; twenty-seven grandchildren; seventy-five great-grandchildren; and five great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Ver Hoek and Henrietta and James Vanden Eykel. Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents three brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren.
Over the years, Gerrit and his family identified strongly with the Chandler Christian Reformed church and community. One of Gerrit's deepest interests was family. As a grandparent, hundreds of extra miles were commonly made to stop by a grandchild who had married and wandered off to North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and other places. Gerrit and Dorothy both enjoyed getting away and traveling. They usually spent some time each winter in southern California. They did this for about fifty years, only missing one or two times during these years.
An interest that developed later in life for the Van Dams was volunteer service. Both volunteered at several christian schools and ministries in the Southwest. Their involvement led to many special friendships that were enjoyed for many years. Gerrit was deeply interested in people and helping others with their needs, problems or hurts. His approach was typically open, and direct, but always tempered with compassion.
Gerrit will be missed most by his wife Dorothy, who resides at Edgebrook care Center; six children, Wilma Grootwassink, Alice and Harold Van Essen, Rev. Harry and Tressa Van Dam, Dorothy and John Van Essen, Gertrude and Harold Jasper; all who reside in Edgerton, and Carol and Marvin Struiksma of Artesia, California; twenty-seven grandchildren; seventy-five great-grandchildren; and five great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Ver Hoek and Henrietta and James Vanden Eykel. Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents three brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren.
Gerrit Van Dam was born to Henry and Wilhelmina (Vander Broek) Van Dam on December 10, 1903 on a farm two miles northeast of Edgerton, Minnesota. He attended country school a couple of miles from his home. When Gerrit was a teenager, the family moved to a farm several miles north where they lived until 1926. Then, the family moved to a farm north of Chandler, Minnesota. On September 12, 1928, Gerrit was united in marriage to Dorothy Kooiman. Following their marriage, the first farm they lived at was near Lake Wilson, Minnesota, and later they moved to a farm northwest of Chandler. In 1939, they moved to a farm near Woodstock, Minnesota in which they settled as "home". They resided there until 1984 when they moved into Edgerton. Less than two years ago, Gerrit and Dorothy entered Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton where Gerrit resided until his death on July 14, 2001 at the age of 97 years, 7 months and 4 days.
Over the years, Gerrit and his family identified strongly with the Chandler Christian Reformed church and community. One of Gerrit's deepest interests was family. As a grandparent, hundreds of extra miles were commonly made to stop by a grandchild who had married and wandered off to North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and other places. Gerrit and Dorothy both enjoyed getting away and traveling. They usually spent some time each winter in southern California. They did this for about fifty years, only missing one or two times during these years.
An interest that developed later in life for the Van Dams was volunteer service. Both volunteered at several christian schools and ministries in the Southwest. Their involvement led to many special friendships that were enjoyed for many years. Gerrit was deeply interested in people and helping others with their needs, problems or hurts. His approach was typically open, and direct, but always tempered with compassion.
Gerrit will be missed most by his wife Dorothy, who resides at Edgebrook care Center; six children, Wilma Grootwassink, Alice and Harold Van Essen, Rev. Harry and Tressa Van Dam, Dorothy and John Van Essen, Gertrude and Harold Jasper; all who reside in Edgerton, and Carol and Marvin Struiksma of Artesia, California; twenty-seven grandchildren; seventy-five great-grandchildren; and five great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Ver Hoek and Henrietta and James Vanden Eykel. Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents three brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren.
Over the years, Gerrit and his family identified strongly with the Chandler Christian Reformed church and community. One of Gerrit's deepest interests was family. As a grandparent, hundreds of extra miles were commonly made to stop by a grandchild who had married and wandered off to North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and other places. Gerrit and Dorothy both enjoyed getting away and traveling. They usually spent some time each winter in southern California. They did this for about fifty years, only missing one or two times during these years.
An interest that developed later in life for the Van Dams was volunteer service. Both volunteered at several christian schools and ministries in the Southwest. Their involvement led to many special friendships that were enjoyed for many years. Gerrit was deeply interested in people and helping others with their needs, problems or hurts. His approach was typically open, and direct, but always tempered with compassion.
Gerrit will be missed most by his wife Dorothy, who resides at Edgebrook care Center; six children, Wilma Grootwassink, Alice and Harold Van Essen, Rev. Harry and Tressa Van Dam, Dorothy and John Van Essen, Gertrude and Harold Jasper; all who reside in Edgerton, and Carol and Marvin Struiksma of Artesia, California; twenty-seven grandchildren; seventy-five great-grandchildren; and five great great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Ver Hoek and Henrietta and James Vanden Eykel. Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents three brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren.
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