Gilbert Huizenga

Gilbert Huizenga

1933-2018

Gilbert Huizenga was born October 17, 1933 in Haynes, CA, the 3rd of 5 sons and 1 daughter, to Ted & Flora Huizenga. He told many stories of how he began his trucking career at the age of 10, working on the area farms with his siblings to support each other and their mother as his father passed when he was 7. This taught Gil a valuable life lesson which he whole heartedly embraced, with determination you can accomplish anything. This is how he lived his whole life through, leading by faith and example to all who knew him. Gil was proceeded in death by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy. They married on May 16, 1952 and spent their lives together, lovingly raising 8 children, Gloria (John-deceased), Ted (Terri), Debbie (Hair), Garry (Linda), Darrel, Gilbert Dale, Tami (Brett) and Todd (Julie). In 1977, at the age of 44, Gilbert and Dorothy moved their family to Enumclaw, WA to begin their lives as dairy farmers. The farmer life suited Gil to a “T”. Dairy farming was a life he had dreamed of having since they were first married and that is what they made, a life. Gil’s best days were spent on the dairy watching his family, fields and farm grow. After retiring in 2000, Gil embraced his trucking roots by restoring a 1960 Peterbilt, formerly owned by his brother Dick and becoming a member of the WA State chapter of the American Truck Historical Society. Not one to sit idle for too long he restored a 2nd truck, a 1967 Peterbilt, in his late 70’s with his reasoning of “it needed to be done”. Traveling to truck shows with his family and swapping stories with great folks as much as he could.

His 40 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren were extra special to him with the most recent addition being born on the day of his passing, April 5, 2018. Many memories will live on in the stories he told, the example he gave, the love he shared and the impact he made on those around him, his presence and wit will be truly missed. In lieu of flowers donations can be made the Wabash Presbyterian Church Building Fund.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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