Gerrit Hendrik van Loon
April 5, 1928 October 5, 2017
Salem, Oregon
Gerrit van Loon, 89, peacefully passed away on October 5, 2017 and is now with the Lord. He was born in the Holland on April 5, 1928.
Gerrit graduated from Agriculture School and worked on the family farm in Holland until 1957. He then immigrated to Alberta, Canada to earn money so he could buy his own farm. One year later, his bride to be, Ann, immigrated so they could get married. They moved to Modesto, California in 1963 where he milked for several years before becoming a partner in a Cash & Carry store in Redding, California. In 1970, they moved to Jefferson, Oregon where they bought their own dairy farm. He was a hard working man and always wanted the best for his wife and children. In 1996 he retired and moved to Salem, Oregon, and continued to be involved with the dairy by running errands. His son Kryn, and grandsons, Ben and Jeremy, now manage the dairy. It meant a lot to Gerrit to keep the farm in the family.
Gerrit was blessed with 59 years of marriage to Ann and good health allowed him to spend time with family in Holland and enjoy many trips and activities with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gerrit was a member of Immanuels Reformed Church. He loved the title of Opa which many people called him.
He is survived by his wife Ann; his son Kryn (Irene) van Loon of Jefferson, OR; his daughter Alice (Rick) Steffen of Silverton, OR; his daughter Lisa (Don) Switzer of Salem, OR; his brother Han (Aat) van Loon and sister Krientje van Loon of the Netherlands; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Lydi van Loon of the Netherlands.
A service will be held October 14, 2017 at 11:00, at Immanuels Reformed Church, 4653 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem, Oregon 97305. Memorial donations may be made to the Salem Union Gospel Mission at ugmsalem.org.
Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services.
