Gerald "Gary" Arthur Beekhuizen was born October 19, 1942 to Gerrit and Minnie (Hol) Beekhuizen, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was welcomed by a brother Gilbert who was 18 years old and by his sister Janet who was 12 years old.

Being the child of immigrants, Gary spoke Dutch better than English when he started school. He fondly remembers spending his early years following his Grandpa Beekhuizen (who never learned English) around the house and garden. The Beekhuizens lived on a farm south of Tracy and as a child, he loved to go the Cedar Bluffs near their farm to hike and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

Gary started school in Tracy, and when he was eight years old, his parents bought a farm south of Oskaloosa. There, he attended a country school (Givin School) through 8th grade. He attended high school in Oskaloosa through his junior year. When the school district lines changed, Gary went to Eddyville High School and graduated in 1960.

After high school, he went to work for McCurdy Seed Company, graduated from William Penn College in 1968, and  continued working for McCurdy Seed Company for 40 years.

Growing up, Gary enjoyed playing with his four nieces, and the De Ronde kids. Gary made profession of faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Having learned to play the accordion as a child, he taught himself to play piano and organ. He enjoyed playing the accordion at nursing homes and church, and he even played the organ occasionally at the Cedar Christian Reformed Church. Gary also loved flower gardening.

On March 7, 1970, Gary was united in marriage to Andrea Van Zee at the Otley Reformed Church in Otley Iowa. To this union, they were blessed with two children: Clarice and Greg. Gary and Andrea lived in Oskaloosa and moved to Fremont in 1973 to be closer to where Gary worked at McCurdy Seed Company. As a family, Gary, Andrea and the kids loved to travel all across the United States and Canada. A favorite family trip was to The Netherlands in 1983 to visit family and see the places Gary's parents and grandfather talked about.

In 1992, when McCurdy Seed Company closed, Gary and Andrea began moving around for Gary's work. They lived in Nevada, Iowa; Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; and ultimately chose to move to Pella to be near family, after Gary retired from Pioneer.

Gary served as a deacon, elder, and Cadet Counselor at churches near where they lived.  Gary was a very active member of The Gideons International for many years. Through his work as a Gideon, Gary distributed Bibles, gave messages at churches and visited local jails.

Gary was a kind and gentle person (like his mother). He was friendly and a bit mischievous. He loved his family dearly, and so enjoyed being "Opa" to his grandkids.

Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease nearly 10 years ago, the disease slowly ravaged his body and mind. Gary was a resident at The Cottages in Pella the past 1 ½ years. Gary loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart and remained a faithful prayer warrior to the very end of his life. We take comfort in knowing he is in heaven now. "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Andrea and their family:

Glenn and Clarice Meinders (Pella)

Maria and Gerrit

Greg and Katie Beekhuizen (Pella)

Graham, Aliza, Amelia, Callan and Griffin

Gary is also survived by his dear sister Janet Van Hall and his four special nieces and their families.

Those preceding him in death are his parents Gerrit and Minnie Beekhuizen, parents-in-law Clarence M. and Loretta Van Zee, his brother Gilbert and his wife Wilma and his brother-in-law Wilbur Van Hall.

Gideons International
PO Box 161, Pella IA 50219