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Services
Friends may visit Bob’s family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM.
A Memorial Service will follow the time of visitation and will begin at 5:30 PM.
Robert W. Heykoop, age 83, of Pompton Plains, passed peacefully, lovingly surrounded by his family, on Monday morning, April 20, 2015.
Bob was born in Wayne, the fifth of six children. He grew up on Ratzer Road, and his childhood home, the first house on the right immediately as you exit off of Route 23 North, still stands. His father Nikolas owned a family nursery – Heykoop’s Nursery- in Pompton Plains. Bob attended Central High School in Paterson where his curriculum focused on agriculture. He graduated in 1950. A pretty good athlete, he was a star on his high school baseball team. He could really hit the ball far. A few years after high school, Bob played ball for a local Wayne softball league. The ball field they played on was literally on the circle of what was the old intersection of Route 23 and Ratzer Road. One night, Bob hit the ball so far, it struck the neon sign on the old Circle Bar and Grill, which was located where the old Fuddruckers stands today.
After high school, Bob worked at his father’s nursery and became interested in stock car racing. He bought a racecar but he was initially too young to race it himself so he had his buddy drive it for him. They raced his car at Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson.
In 1951, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Given the option, he opted to be the ship’s cook. He chose this position because he said it was too loud working in the engine or boiler room. His granddaughters enjoyed hearing stories about his time as a cook. One of their favorite stories was about the oval pancakes he would make when the ship rocked side to side and the motion of the ship would cause the pancake batter to spread into an oval shape. He served his country proudly from 1951 until being honorably discharged in 1955. Upon completion of his service, he was awarded the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
In 1953, Bob came home on leave from active duty. He was driving down Black Oak Ridge Road in Wayne, on his way to his girlfriend’s house, when a friend of his, Mabel, saw him and flagged him down. Mabel and her friend Rita Zimmerer were outside shoveling dirt for Mabel’s father. When Bob and Rita laid eyes on each other, it was love at first sight! Bob never did make it to his girlfriend’s house that day. He returned to his Navy service but kept in touch with Rita from that time on. After nine months of dating, Bob asked Rita for her hand in marriage. She said yes! Then, being the honorable man that he was, Bob asked Rita’s father for permission to marry her. With permission granted, on Saturday, March 6, 1954, family and friends gathered at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes to witness Bob and Rita’s wedding promises. After the reception and honeymoon in Florida, the newlyweds made their first home in Connecticut where Bob was completing his Navy Service.
Soon after, in 1955, they celebrated the birth of their firstborn, a cute little baby girl named Linda. Shortly after, they moved in with Rita’s parents in Wayne and lived there for two years. During that time, Bob and Rita were blessed with a baby boy whom they proudly named Robert, Jr. By now, Bob was working with his father at the family nursery. In 1956, he and his family moved into their new home, which they built on the nursery grounds in Pompton Plains. The nursery was a wholesale and retail business that produced mostly shrubs and trees. Bob enjoyed his work and was very conscientious about it, often working seven days a week in the spring and fall seasons.
In his spare time, Bob enjoyed playing softball and competing with his buddies in the Wednesday night bowling league at Butler Bowl. One of the teams he played for was called the Royal Master Grinders – named after the company that sponsored them. Bob’s league bowled at 9:00 PM and he was pretty good, sporting an average in the 180’s. Bob was a real family man and he always cherished time he could spend with them. Every summer, he spent a week with Rita and the kids down the Jersey Shore at Seaside Park. He loved the beach and the sun and surf – especially riding the waves on his canvas raft. Throughout the years, he loved, loved, loved the family picnics at Ringwood Manor and Darlington Park in Ramsey! Those picnics were frequent and they always involved extended family. A man of tradition, Bob considered having his family gathered for the classic holidays – Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, to be times where he felt like he was “living the dream.”
In 1989, Bob sold a portion of the land that comprised the nursery so that he could purchase his own Pepperidge Farm bread route. For the next eight-to-ten years, his days began with delivering bread and other Pepperidge Farm products to the local food stores, then coming home to work at the nursery. Years later, after retiring, Bob would still run into people in the stores he serviced. He always appreciated the warm greetings and friendships he was able to establish over the years.
It was around this time that Bob also pursued another endeavor……horse racing. Not just going to the track, but going to the track to see his very own horse compete. Bob bought a race horse. The horse’s name was Drummer’s Best and, while no U.S. Triple Crown winner like Secretariat, that horse afforded Bob and his family lots of enjoyment and good times. Drummer’s Best raced at Monticello, Pocono Downs, and of course, The Meadowlands. Rita always joined Bob for a night of racing and betting, with Linda, Robert, his grandchildren, and friends joining them to cheer on Drummer’s Best.
Bob didn’t ask for a lot out of life. He enjoyed simple activities like communing with nature while working in the nursery, going to parades, chasing down whatever town was hosting July 4th fireworks, playing horseshoes, getting together with Rita and friends for a night of friendly poker or a card game of Nertz, or enjoying dinner at a restaurant with his family. When dining out, if asked how his food was, Bob’s usual response was “Good, but not as good as Mom’s.”
Bob loved his beloved wife Rita and together they enjoyed a loving marriage of just over 61 years. In later years, Bob had the privilege of becoming a grandfather to three precious girls – Rhonda, Kelly and Kaitlyn. Later, he was blessed to become a great-grandfather to Lily, Hannah, and Laila. All of these girls adored their “Poppy” and have wonderful memories of him making them his famous blueberry pancakes and taking them to the orchards in New York State for apple picking and hay rides. His granddaughter Rhonda considered Bob to be far above and beyond an average grandfather. He held such a special place in her heart. The two of them enjoyed a special bond of mutual love and admiration for each other.
Bob was known to be a quiet man who never sought to be the center of attention. While that was the case, his honesty, integrity, and likeability spoke loud and clear as to the man he truly was. If a family member happened to meet someone who knew Bob, as soon as they realized that “you were related to Bob” they always spoke highly about what a great guy he was. No one ever had a bad word to say about him.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Rita; his dear daughter Linda Van Wingerden and husband Vincent Intindola of Pompton Plains; his dear son Robert Jr. and wife Nancy Heykoop of Lincoln Park; three adored granddaughters: Rhonda, Kelly, Kaitlyn; and three cherished great-granddaughters: Lily, Hannah, and Laila.
Bob was predeceased by his four brothers: Johannes, Orrie, Gus, and Richard Heykoop; and his sister Adriana Cleary.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bob’s name are asked to consider the The Salvation Army, New Jersey Division, P.O. Box 3170, Union, NJ 07083.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit Bob’s family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM.
A Memorial Service will follow the time of visitation and will begin at 5:30 PM.
Services
Friends may visit Bob’s family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, April 24, 2015 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM.
A Memorial Service will follow the time of visitation and will begin at 5:30 PM.
Robert W. Heykoop, age 83, of Pompton Plains, passed peacefully, lovingly surrounded by his family, on Monday morning, April 20, 2015.
Bob was born in Wayne, the fifth of six children. He grew up on Ratzer Road, and his childhood home, the first house on the right immediately as you exit off of Route 23 North, still stands. His father Nikolas owned a family nursery – Heykoop’s Nursery- in Pompton Plains. Bob attended Central High School in Paterson where his curriculum focused on agriculture. He graduated in 1950. A pretty good athlete, he was a star on his high school baseball team. He could really hit the ball far. A few years after high school, Bob played ball for a local Wayne softball league. The ball field they played on was literally on the circle of what was the old intersection of Route 23 and Ratzer Road. One night, Bob hit the ball so far, it struck the neon sign on the old Circle Bar and Grill, which was located where the old Fuddruckers stands today.
After high school, Bob worked at his father’s nursery and became interested in stock car racing. He bought a racecar but he was initially too young to race it himself so he had his buddy drive it for him. They raced his car at Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson.
In 1951, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Given the option, he opted to be the ship’s cook. He chose this position because he said it was too loud working in the engine or boiler room. His granddaughters enjoyed hearing stories about his time as a cook. One of their favorite stories was about the oval pancakes he would make when the ship rocked side to side and the motion of the ship would cause the pancake batter to spread into an oval shape. He served his country proudly from 1951 until being honorably discharged in 1955. Upon completion of his service, he was awarded the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
In 1953, Bob came home on leave from active duty. He was driving down Black Oak Ridge Road in Wayne, on his way to his girlfriend’s house, when a friend of his, Mabel, saw him and flagged him down. Mabel and her friend Rita Zimmerer were outside shoveling dirt for Mabel’s father. When Bob and Rita laid eyes on each other, it was love at first sight! Bob never did make it to his girlfriend’s house that day. He returned to his Navy service but kept in touch with Rita from that time on. After nine months of dating, Bob asked Rita for her hand in marriage. She said yes! Then, being the honorable man that he was, Bob asked Rita’s father for permission to marry her. With permission granted, on Saturday, March 6, 1954, family and friends gathered at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes to witness Bob and Rita’s wedding promises. After the reception and honeymoon in Florida, the newlyweds made their first home in Connecticut where Bob was completing his Navy Service.
Soon after, in 1955, they celebrated the birth of their firstborn, a cute little baby girl named Linda. Shortly after, they moved in with Rita’s parents in Wayne and lived there for two years. During that time, Bob and Rita were blessed with a baby boy whom they proudly named Robert, Jr. By now, Bob was working with his father at the family nursery. In 1956, he and his family moved into their new home, which they built on the nursery grounds in Pompton Plains. The nursery was a wholesale and retail business that produced mostly shrubs and trees. Bob enjoyed his work and was very conscientious about it, often working seven days a week in the spring and fall seasons.
In his spare time, Bob enjoyed playing softball and competing with his buddies in the Wednesday night bowling league at Butler Bowl. One of the teams he played for was called the Royal Master Grinders – named after the company that sponsored them. Bob’s league bowled at 9:00 PM and he was pretty good, sporting an average in the 180’s. Bob was a real family man and he always cherished time he could spend with them. Every summer, he spent a week with Rita and the kids down the Jersey Shore at Seaside Park. He loved the beach and the sun and surf – especially riding the waves on his canvas raft. Throughout the years, he loved, loved, loved the family picnics at Ringwood Manor and Darlington Park in Ramsey! Those picnics were frequent and they always involved extended family. A man of tradition, Bob considered having his family gathered for the classic holidays – Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, to be times where he felt like he was “living the dream.”
In 1989, Bob sold a portion of the land that comprised the nursery so that he could purchase his own Pepperidge Farm bread route. For the next eight-to-ten years, his days began with delivering bread and other Pepperidge Farm products to the local food stores, then coming home to work at the nursery. Years later, after retiring, Bob would still run into people in the stores he serviced. He always appreciated the warm greetings and friendships he was able to establish over the years.
It was around this time that Bob also pursued another endeavor……horse racing. Not just going to the track, but going to the track to see his very own horse compete. Bob bought a race horse. The horse’s name was Drummer’s Best and, while no U.S. Triple Crown winner like Secretariat, that horse afforded Bob and his family lots of enjoyment and good times. Drummer’s Best raced at Monticello, Pocono Downs, and of course, The Meadowlands. Rita always joined Bob for a night of racing and betting, with Linda, Robert, his grandchildren, and friends joining them to cheer on Drummer’s Best.
Bob didn’t ask for a lot out of life. He enjoyed simple activities like communing with nature while working in the nursery, going to parades, chasing down whatever town was hosting July 4th fireworks, playing horseshoes, getting together with Rita and friends for a night of friendly poker or a card game of Nertz, or enjoying dinner at a restaurant with his family. When dining out, if asked how his food was, Bob’s usual response was “Good, but not as good as Mom’s.”
Bob loved his beloved wife Rita and together they enjoyed a loving marriage of just over 61 years. In later years, Bob had the privilege of becoming a grandfather to three precious girls – Rhonda, Kelly and Kaitlyn. Later, he was blessed to become a great-grandfather to Lily, Hannah, and Laila. All of these girls adored their “Poppy” and have wonderful memories of him making them his famous blueberry pancakes and taking them to the orchards in New York State for apple picking and hay rides. His granddaughter Rhonda considered Bob to be far above and beyond an average grandfather. He held such a special place in her heart. The two of them enjoyed a special bond of mutual love and admiration for each other.
Bob was known to be a quiet man who never sought to be the center of attention. While that was the case, his honesty, integrity, and likeability spoke loud and clear as to the man he truly was. If a family member happened to meet someone who knew Bob, as soon as they realized that “you were related to Bob” they always spoke highly about what a great guy he was. No one ever had a bad word to say about him.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Rita; his dear daughter Linda Van Wingerden and husband Vincent Intindola of Pompton Plains; his dear son Robert Jr. and wife Nancy Heykoop of Lincoln Park; three adored granddaughters: Rhonda, Kelly, Kaitlyn; and three cherished great-granddaughters: Lily, Hannah, and Laila.
Bob was predeceased by his four brothers: Johannes, Orrie, Gus, and Richard Heykoop; and his sister Adriana Cleary.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bob’s name are asked to consider the The Salvation Army, New Jersey Division, P.O. Box 3170, Union, NJ 07083.
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