Obituary of John Schilstra

Schilstra, John A. age 63 of Hawthorne went to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 23, 2013. John was born in Morristown and grew up in Mahwah and Wyckoff where he graduated from Ramapo High School. He was a resident of Hawthorne for the past 37 years. He was employed by several Ford dealerships in the Bergen County area over the past 40 years before retiring just one year ago. John was a member of the Grace Bible Church in Pompton Plains where he served in various ministries and always gave a helping hand where needed. He enjoyed being a backyard mechanic and attending the many car shows in the local area. John was a good listener and a great talker. He was a devout husband and father and loved being with family and friends. Surviving is his loving wife of 37 years, Susan (nee Terhune), his devoted children, Leah Brown and John Schilstra and his fiancé Erin Mulford. John also leaves his brother David Schilstra and his wife Lois and their daughter Stefanie. Funeral services will be held Wednesday 10:00 AM from the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. Interment will follow in the Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Totowa. Visiting will be Tuesday 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps., 970 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.