Henry J. Van der Giessen [Parents] was born on 14 Feb 1922 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. He died ¹ on 21 Jul 1999 in Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Henry married ² Lena Garetta De Boer on 17 Feb 1944 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA.

Lena Garetta De Boer was born on 8 Jan 1925 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. She died ¹ on 16 Jan 2006 in Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Lena married ² Henry J. Van der Giessen on 17 Feb 1944 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA.

John Van der Giessen [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 28 Sep 1916 in Coffee Creek, Montana, USA. He died ³ on 27 Jan 2011 in Washington, USA. John married ⁴ Marie Catherine Lagerwey on 24 Jan 1940 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA.

Lynden resident, John Vander Giessen, age 94, went home to his Heavenly Father Thursday, January 27, 2011. He was born September 28, 1916 in Coffee Creek, Montana to James and Anna (Zwaanstra) Vander Giessen. He moved to Lynden with his family in the 1920’s and lived all of his adult life in Whatcom County. John attended Lynden Christian schools; held numerous jobs in the Lynden area and traveled to California where he learned the refrigeration trade while working with his uncle John. He returned to the Lynden area, where he met the love of his life Marie Lagerwey. They were married January 24, 1940 and walked side by side for 71 years. Following their marriage, John worked on the John Pilon farm and believed farming was his calling. In 1943 he purchased his own farm in the Custer area; beginning with 18 cows. Over the next 10 years, John transformed this farm from its poor condition into a progressive dairy; utilizing irrigation and a fertilizer program. He proudly built the second milking parlor in Whatcom County. Unfortunately John broke his back and was no longer able to maintain his farm. God had a new plan for him as dairy milk refrigeration became a new venture in the 1950’s. John utilized his refrigeration training working with coolers for milk cans and later milk storage equipment. He maintained his connection to the dairy industry and this also provided opportunity to work with his two sons in the dairy equipment industry. John saw the dairy industry progress from milk being cooled by well water shipped in a milk can to the sale of milk tanks ranging from 100 to over 6000 gallons. He was proud to have been a refrigeration engineer at Cascade Cold Storage, working for his friend John Harkoff for 17 years, while operating his own refrigeration business Vander Giessen Refrigeration—later known as Sunset Western Inc. In retirement, John and Marie enjoyed 26 winters in Southern California where many wonderful times were shared with family and friends. John was a member of First Reformed Church. John is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Marie. John and Marie were blessed with five children: sons, Dale (Seki) Vander Giessen of Blaine and Jim (Karen) Vander Giessen of Puyallup; daughters, Andrea (Kingma) Hendricks and husband Harvey of Lynden, Annette Scholten of Dana Point, CA and Karen (Darrel) Timmer of Lynden. John was very proud of all his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Ada Vos; sisters-in-law, Alida Crabtree and Claus Schouten and brothers-in-law, Marinus and Matt Lagerwey. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Kay Gosser and Grace Van Ry; brothers Lawrence, Henry and Don; brothers-in-law John, Bill, Arie, Gerrit, Johan and Nick; sisters-in-law Minnie Konyenbelt and Katherine De Koster and granddaughter, Sheri Scholten. Visitation hours will be Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5 to 7 pm at Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted at 10 am Wed. Feb. 2 at Monumenta Cemetery followed by an 11 am memorial service at First Reformed Church, 6th & Grover St. in Lynden. Memorial donations are suggested to Whatcom Hospice Foundation, 800 E. Chestnut St., Ste. 1-C, Bellingham, WA 98226 or to First Reformed Church, 6th & Grover St., Lynden, WA 98264

Marie Catherine Lagerwey was born ¹ on 28 Dec 1917 in Shepherd, Montana, USA. She died on 10 Mar 2014 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Marie married ² John Van der Giessen ³ on 24 Jan 1940 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA.

Marie Catherine Vander Giessen, 96, of Lynden, went home to her Heavenly Father on Monday, March 10, 2014, surrounded by her loving family.   Marie was born on Dec. 28, 1917, in Shepherd, Mont., to John and Adrianna Lagerwey. At the age of 20 she moved with her family to Lynden. On Jan. 24, 1940, she married the love of her life, John Vander Giessen. They walked side by side for 71 years. Together they had five children. Her passion in life was her children. She was a devoted wife, loving Mother, Grandmother, great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother!   She and John owned and operated a dairy farm for many years. After moving off the farm, Marie worked outside the home at both Lynden Christian Rest Home and Van Zanten Nursery. After retirement, John and Marie were blessed to spend their winters in Palm Springs, Calif., enjoying sunshine, family and good friends. In her spare time you could find Marie either knitting, reading or involved in some type of group game activity. Marie will always be remembered for her hard work and compassion for others. She was a devoted Christian which was shared in her compassion for everyone she met. She was a long-time member of First Reformed Church in Lynden.   She is survived by her five children: Dale (Seki) Vander Giessen, Jim Vander Giessen (Karen), Andrea (Harv) Hendricks, Annette Scholten and Karen (Darrrel) Timmer. She is also survived by sisters Alida Crabtree, Claus Schouten, brother Matt Lagerwey and sisters-in-law Jolene Lagerwey, Joyce Lagerwey, Winifred Vander Giessen, Ada Vos and Hetty VanderGiessen. She was proud of all her family.   She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers John, Bill, Arie, Gerrit, Johan, Nick and Marinus Lagerwey; sisters Minnie Konyenbelt and Katherine DeKoster; and two grandchildren, Sheri Scholten and Brad Timmer.   Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, March 14, in Monumenta Cemetery followed by a 3 p.m. memorial service in First Reformed Church, 610 Grover St., Lynden.   Memorials donations are suggested to: Christian Health Care Center, 855 Aaron Dr., Lynden, WA 98264.