Richard Tuit age 83 of Pompton Plains entered his Lord’s presence on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at the Renaissance Gardens at Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains.
He was born in North Haledon to Nicholas and Susanna Tuit and resided in Haledon and North Haledon before moving to Highland Lakes where he lived for nineteen years, he wintered in Bradenton, FL for sixteen years before moving to Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains last year.
Richard graduated from Hawthorne High School with the Class of 1944. He was drafted into the United States Army during WWII in February of 1945 at the age of eighteen. With his skills of operating heavy equipment he was given the task of driving a tank. He later became a Military Policeman and was stationed in Puerto Rico where he drove a motorcycle and jeep to escort the high echelon of military personnel.
After WWII Richard and his brother Nicholas partnered to form Tuit Brothers, a paving and excavating company they ran for forty years in the North Haledon area. They both retired on the same day nineteen years ago.
He met the love of his life Wilma Heerema at Sunday evening church services at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Paterson. Their first date was to 7 Lakes Drive in Bear Mountain, NY. He purchased a diamond in HoHoKus and couldn’t wait to propose to Wilma. He proposed on a hill in HoHoKus overlooking the lights of Manhattan on December 21, 1950. They married at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Paterson on March 15, 1951. They honeymooned in Florida and drove there in a 1940 Buick into which Richard had put a 1950 engine.
Religion being a very important part of his life, Richard was a member of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Paterson from 1951 through 1989; he served as an Elder for three terms and as a Deacon for four terms. He made his profession at the 2nd Christian Reformed Church(Unity), Prospect Park the same night Wilma made hers at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Paterson. They presently are members of Christ Community Church of Highland Lakes at which Rich served as its first elder.
Richard is best described as a man who could fix anything; he was kind, patient, industrious, and a hard working person with a strong and committed faith in his Lord. He built both houses he has lived in from the ground up. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and golf. He also purchased a vacation farm in Sharon Springs, NY where he built yet another home. He always befriended others and fulfilled thier needs as an expression of his strong faith in Jesus Christ.
He was the loving husband of fifty-eight years to Wilma (Heerema) Tuit; loving father of Ronald W. Tuit and his wife Debbie of Kanab, UT, Rick Tuit of Highland Lakes, NJ, Janis R. Warden and her husband James of Pella, IA, Glen D. Tuit of Highland Lakes, NJ and Bob C. Tuit and his wife Janine of Bloomingdale; brother of Hilda Borduin of North Haledon and the late John, Nicholas Jr., Alice VanDokkenberg, Wilhelmina Tuit and Jean Mapes; cherished grandfather of thirteen grandchildren Lora and Dr. Robert Smid, Jessica and Mark Van Wyngarden, Merissa and Brandon Nishijo, Brian, Jason, Jonathan, Robert S. and Jeanae Tuit, James Richard, Cory, Steven, Alexis and Briana Warden; much loved great-grandfather of Dalia and Keira Smid, Wyatt Nishijo and Benjamin Van Wyngarden.
Funeral services will be held 10 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, February 7, 2010 from 2-6 PM at the funeral home.
Interment will be in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Back to God Ministries Intl., 6555 West College Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463 or the Eastern Christian School Association(ECSA), 50 Oakwood Ave., North Haledon, NJ, 07508 would be appreciated.