Obituary of Gerard Hoekstra

Hoekstra ,Gerard W. Jr. age 84 of Jewett, NY, formerly of Oakland died peacefully in his home surrounded by his children on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Born in Passaic he lived in Oakland for 47 years before moving to Jewett 10 years ago. Gerard was a Manufacturing Manager for National Beryllia of Haskell for 35 years before his retirement. He retired a full Colonel from the Army Reserve. Gerard was a volunteer for the NYNJ Trail Conference and was an avid hiker Surviving are his children, Blaine of Wayne, Ward of Hewitt, Gordon of Westwood, David of Newton, Diane of Vienna VA and Vicki Chesney of Oakland, NJ and his 12 grandchildren, Doug, Julie, Heather, Breanne, Nicole, Kyle, Alyssa, Grace, Joseph, Megan, Ian and Brooke. Also surviving is his brother, Kenn Hoekstra of Redding, CA and sister, Winifred Bay of Pioneer, CA. Visiting hours Monday 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ. Funeral Mass Tuesday 10 am at St. Mary's R.C. Church, 17 Pompton Ave. Pompton Lakes, NJ. Private Cremation will be held. In lieu of flowers donations to The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill, NY 12414.