Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
June 7, 2014
Services
A Funeral Service celebrating Henry’s life will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2014, 10:00 AM at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470. Please meet directly at the church.
Henry William Hiemstra, age 87, of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Born in Passaic and raised in Clifton with his two brothers and one sister, Henry had been a resident of Wayne since 1953.
Following graduation from Clifton High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was promptly sent to Rutgers College. Eight months later, in 1945, he entered into active duty and was deployed to Europe where he served in World War II. Following the conclusion of the war, Henry remained in Europe, serving in the Army of Occupation where he was initially charged with bringing six German prisoners of war back to Germany. He then went to France, again as an officer in the Army of Occupation. While in France, he was charged with guarding the country’s Piper Heidsieck Champagne. After the war, he was able to bring home six bottles of that fine champagne which he only opened for very special occasions. For his service to his country, Henry was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
When his Army service was completed, he returned to the U.S. joining his father and brothers in their construction business. Primarily builders of homes, they built many down the Jersey shore in Chadwick Beach.
Back home in Clifton where he was living with his parents, Henry was relaxing one day after work, engaged in one of his favorite past-times – fly casting. A young lady named Elizabeth Evans, aka “Betty” was visiting her girlfriend who lived next door. Betty spotted Henry fly casting and engaged him in the art of small talk. A pleasant conversation ensued and, finding out that they both liked to dance, Henry and Betty excitedly made plans to go dancing together. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love and they married on Saturday, November 1, 1952 at Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. Soon after they moved to Wayne where they raised their three children and enjoyed forty years as husband and wife until Betty’s passing in 1993.
Henry and his brother Lou owned their own construction business – Henlu Construction and continued to build numerous homes and additions in the area. When Lou became too ill to work, Henry took a job at Ramapo College, Mahwah as a construction maintenance engineer. He continued in that role for ten years, retiring in 1989.
Next to his wife and children, Henry loved being in the great outdoors with his line and hook in the water, going for that record catch. His favorite places to fish included Ringwood’s Erskine and Cupsaw Lake and down the shore at the family’s home in Chadwick Beach. In fact, every year on Memorial Day, it was tradition to be at his parent’s house in Chadwick Beach. Henry loved to fish but he hated the feel of the sand on his feet so he always wore shoes when fishing.
Henry’s other love was serving at Preakness Reformed Church. He joined in 1952, right after he and Betty got married. For many years he was an enthusiastic member of the choir and he also served more than one term as elder. When the leaders of the church decided to build an education wing off the side of the church, Henry was more than willing to offer his building expertise.
Henry got a great kick out of being a grandpa and always made sure he took the time to be with them for all those special occasions like dance recitals and graduations. After Betty passed away in 1993, he continued to socialize with the couples that he and Betty were always friends with. Like Henry, a woman in that circle of friends lost her husband too. Her name was Margaret Krell and Henry and she enjoyed a special friendship for the last 20 years.
Henry is survived by his dear son Steven of New Port Richey, FL, and his dear daughter Jacqueline Bennett of Huntersville, NC: five adored grandchildren: Sarah and husband Sean, Rachel, Kerri, Kelsie, and Greta; and his cherished great-granddaughter Aoife. Henry was predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth in 1993, his dear daughter Patricia Magerowski in 1993, and his three siblings: Robert, Matilda Davis and Louis.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Henry’s name are asked to consider the Preakness Reformed Church Scholarship Fund.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A Funeral Service celebrating Henry’s life will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2014, 10:00 AM at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470. Please meet directly at the church.
June 7, 2014
Services
A Funeral Service celebrating Henry’s life will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2014, 10:00 AM at Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470. Please meet directly at the church.
Henry William Hiemstra, age 87, of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Born in Passaic and raised in Clifton with his two brothers and one sister, Henry had been a resident of Wayne since 1953.
Following graduation from Clifton High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was promptly sent to Rutgers College. Eight months later, in 1945, he entered into active duty and was deployed to Europe where he served in World War II. Following the conclusion of the war, Henry remained in Europe, serving in the Army of Occupation where he was initially charged with bringing six German prisoners of war back to Germany. He then went to France, again as an officer in the Army of Occupation. While in France, he was charged with guarding the country’s Piper Heidsieck Champagne. After the war, he was able to bring home six bottles of that fine champagne which he only opened for very special occasions. For his service to his country, Henry was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
When his Army service was completed, he returned to the U.S. joining his father and brothers in their construction business. Primarily builders of homes, they built many down the Jersey shore in Chadwick Beach.
Back home in Clifton where he was living with his parents, Henry was relaxing one day after work, engaged in one of his favorite past-times – fly casting. A young lady named Elizabeth Evans, aka “Betty” was visiting her girlfriend who lived next door. Betty spotted Henry fly casting and engaged him in the art of small talk. A pleasant conversation ensued and, finding out that they both liked to dance, Henry and Betty excitedly made plans to go dancing together. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love and they married on Saturday, November 1, 1952 at Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. Soon after they moved to Wayne where they raised their three children and enjoyed forty years as husband and wife until Betty’s passing in 1993.
Henry and his brother Lou owned their own construction business – Henlu Construction and continued to build numerous homes and additions in the area. When Lou became too ill to work, Henry took a job at Ramapo College, Mahwah as a construction maintenance engineer. He continued in that role for ten years, retiring in 1989.
Next to his wife and children, Henry loved being in the great outdoors with his line and hook in the water, going for that record catch. His favorite places to fish included Ringwood’s Erskine and Cupsaw Lake and down the shore at the family’s home in Chadwick Beach. In fact, every year on Memorial Day, it was tradition to be at his parent’s house in Chadwick Beach. Henry loved to fish but he hated the feel of the sand on his feet so he always wore shoes when fishing.
Henry’s other love was serving at Preakness Reformed Church. He joined in 1952, right after he and Betty got married. For many years he was an enthusiastic member of the choir and he also served more than one term as elder. When the leaders of the church decided to build an education wing off the side of the church, Henry was more than willing to offer his building expertise.
Henry got a great kick out of being a grandpa and always made sure he took the time to be with them for all those special occasions like dance recitals and graduations. After Betty passed away in 1993, he continued to socialize with the couples that he and Betty were always friends with. Like Henry, a woman in that circle of friends lost her husband too. Her name was Margaret Krell and Henry and she enjoyed a special friendship for the last 20 years.
Henry is survived by his dear son Steven of New Port Richey, FL, and his dear daughter Jacqueline Bennett of Huntersville, NC: five adored grandchildren: Sarah and husband Sean, Rachel, Kerri, Kelsie, and Greta; and his cherished great-granddaughter Aoife. Henry was predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth in 1993, his dear daughter Patricia Magerowski in 1993, and his three siblings: Robert, Matilda Davis and Louis.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Henry’s name are asked to consider the Preakness Reformed Church Scholarship Fund.
Guestbook