Howard A. Haveman
Howard Alvin Haveman, age 89, went to be with his Lord on December 28, 2017 after a year-long decline in health at Regency on Whidbey. He was born on May 10, 1928 in Lynden, Washington to John & Elsie (Bovendam) Haveman. He attended public school in Lynden.
Howard was a World War II Army veteran and served with the occupation forces in Japan from May 2, 1946 until his honorable discharge on October 23, 1947.
He moved to Oak Harbor in 1949 and worked on the farm of his brother-in-law, Jake Rip, for 5 years. He was married to Gertrude Rip on April 27, 1951 in Oak Harbor, where they raised their 3 sons.
After 5 years on the farm, he went to work for the Island County Road Department as a truck driver and equipment operator. He worked for Island County for 28 years after which he began work for Krieg Construction as a rock crusher operator. He worked for Krieg Construction for 20 years until he retired in 2002 at age 74.
Howard enjoyed camping and fishing. raising steers, yard work and gardening. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and, above all, he loved and served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Lynden until his move to Oak Harbor, where he joined the Christian Reformed Church in 1950. He became a charter member of the Sovereign Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1998 and was an active member until his death.
Howard was preceded in death in 2011 by his wife, Gertrude and by 1 brother and 6 sisters. He is survived by his 3 sons, Ronald (Carol) Haveman of Marysville, WA and Steven and Randall Haveman, both of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by grandson Bradley (Jana) Haveman and great-grandchildren Micah, Olivia and Samantha of Edmonton, Alberta; grandson Travis (Darla) Haveman and great-grandchildren Danielle, Tanner and Jade of Ripon, California; and granddaughter Tamara (Bradley) Kuklenski of Bellevue, Washington. He is also survived by his brother Norman (Gerry) Haveman of Oak Harbor.
Graveside funeral services for family and close friends will be held at Fircrest Cemetery, Oak Harbor, on January 6, 2018 at 12:00. A memorial service and reception will follow at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church at 1:00 PM with Pastor Robert Van Kooten officiating.
Pallbearers will be Ron de Ru, Rudie Duysings, Bryan Duysings, Malcolm Huston, Steve Thompson, and Brian Weaver; beloved members of the Sovereign Grace church family.