Paul J. Van Dyken, Sr., 89, died on Tuesday, Nov. 17, after a long illness.
He was born at home in Ripon, California, on Sept. 21, 1920. The youngest of 10 children, he attended school in Ripon and later the Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, New York. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific theater and joined the Naval Reserve after his discharge.
Married in 1945 to his high school sweetheart, Clarice Pasma, he made his home in Ripon, raising eight children. Working at N & S Home Appliance Company on Main Street, he eventually became owner and partner, selling appliances, installing and fixing pumps, and putting in irrigation systems for many farmers in the area.
He served his community devotedly in many different ways, as a businessman, an elder in the church, a long-time member of the Rotary Club, a volunteer fireman, a supporter of the Stockton Gospel Center and Ione Protestant Council, and a member of the Gideons International.
Mr. Van Dyken was also an avid gardener. He made excellent wine and muscat champagne, dried figs and raisins and peaches and cherries, bottled his own root beer, cured olives, made sauerkraut, and thoroughly enjoyed the blessing of good food. Thanks to many farmer friends, he brought all his children out to glean fruit after harvest, and they canned thousands of quarts of fruit over the years.
He was a warm and friendly man, and deeply committed to Christian values and to sharing the gospel. He will be remembered for his humor, his penchant for puns, his wink and smile, his bear hugs and back rubs. He loved music and opera, and his family often gathered around the table or piano to sing hymns in harmony, particularly the Psalms.
Mr. Van Dyken and his wife Clarice made many trips to visit children and grandchildren across the U.S., and brought them all together at Lake Tahoe for summer reunions
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Clarice Van Dyken; his eight children and their spouses, Larry Van Dyken, Gayle Van Dyken, Cora Brouwer, Edith (Phil) Bajema, Paul (Del) Van Dyken, Ted (Carol) Van Dyken, Barb (Gord) DeJong, and Ruth (Russ) Rowenhorst; one sibling, Nick Van Dyken; and 20 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Christa Van Dyken.
Family visitation was at the Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel in Ripon on Friday, Nov. 20. Graveside services were held on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the Ripon Cemetery, and a memorial service was held at Zion United Reformed Church in Ripon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International or to the Stockton Gospel Center.
Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel in charge of services. On line guest registry available at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Nov. 25, 2009
He was born at home in Ripon, California, on Sept. 21, 1920. The youngest of 10 children, he attended school in Ripon and later the Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, New York. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific theater and joined the Naval Reserve after his discharge.
Married in 1945 to his high school sweetheart, Clarice Pasma, he made his home in Ripon, raising eight children. Working at N & S Home Appliance Company on Main Street, he eventually became owner and partner, selling appliances, installing and fixing pumps, and putting in irrigation systems for many farmers in the area.
He served his community devotedly in many different ways, as a businessman, an elder in the church, a long-time member of the Rotary Club, a volunteer fireman, a supporter of the Stockton Gospel Center and Ione Protestant Council, and a member of the Gideons International.
Mr. Van Dyken was also an avid gardener. He made excellent wine and muscat champagne, dried figs and raisins and peaches and cherries, bottled his own root beer, cured olives, made sauerkraut, and thoroughly enjoyed the blessing of good food. Thanks to many farmer friends, he brought all his children out to glean fruit after harvest, and they canned thousands of quarts of fruit over the years.
He was a warm and friendly man, and deeply committed to Christian values and to sharing the gospel. He will be remembered for his humor, his penchant for puns, his wink and smile, his bear hugs and back rubs. He loved music and opera, and his family often gathered around the table or piano to sing hymns in harmony, particularly the Psalms.
Mr. Van Dyken and his wife Clarice made many trips to visit children and grandchildren across the U.S., and brought them all together at Lake Tahoe for summer reunions
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Clarice Van Dyken; his eight children and their spouses, Larry Van Dyken, Gayle Van Dyken, Cora Brouwer, Edith (Phil) Bajema, Paul (Del) Van Dyken, Ted (Carol) Van Dyken, Barb (Gord) DeJong, and Ruth (Russ) Rowenhorst; one sibling, Nick Van Dyken; and 20 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Christa Van Dyken.
Family visitation was at the Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel in Ripon on Friday, Nov. 20. Graveside services were held on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the Ripon Cemetery, and a memorial service was held at Zion United Reformed Church in Ripon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International or to the Stockton Gospel Center.
Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel in charge of services. On line guest registry available at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Nov. 25, 2009
