Obituary of Bill Dykstra

DYKSTRA, William “Bill” Severn Bridge, Ontario William “Bill” Dykstra, age 85, passed away Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia. He was born on April 25, 1939, in Birdaard, the Netherlands, a son of Charles and Wytske Dykstra. At the age of 12, he immigrated to Bloomfield, Ontario with his family. Having met the challenge of learning English, he enrolled at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he met Virginia Koster; they married in 1965. Bill graduated from Calvin Seminary in 1969 and served as a Christian Reformed pastor in Haney, British Columbia, as a chaplain at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and as the pastor of two more churches in Chatham and Newmarket, Ontario. After this, Bill followed his passion for social justice and became a prison chaplain in Gravenhurst, Ontario where he continued to volunteer after retirement. Cherished husband of Virginia, his wife of 59 years. Much-loved father of Emily (Jim) Smith of Rochester, NY, Bill (Cindy) Dykstra of Orillia, and John (Marian) Dykstra of Burlington. Loving Grandpa of Kevin and Trevor Smith, Nathan, Janel, and Levi Dykstra, and Jacob, Reanna, and Sam Dykstra. Dear brother of Rennie Vanderwal and Jane (John) Breukelaar. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers and their wives, Nicholas and Frances Dykstra and Hessel and Connie Dykstra, and a brother-in-law, Marten Vanderwal. Visitation will be held at Living Hope Christian Reformed Church, 50 Fittons Road West, Orillia on Tuesday December 17th 2024 from 11:30 am until 12:45 pm, followed by a celebration of life at 1:00 pm. The family wishes to thank the ICU staff at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Orillia Lighthouse. Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.simcoefuneralhome.ca