Charles Sybesma

Ocotber 20, 1927-January 20, 2018

Charles Sybesma, 90, went to be with his Lord on January 20, 2018. Charles' passion was his dairy that he owned and operated most of his adult life. Charles is survived by his wife of 67 years, Freda, daughters Joann Dobrinin and Debra Boogaard, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled on Thursday, February 8th from 5 to 7 PM at People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty Street, Hanford. Graveside services will be Friday, February 9th at 9:30 AM at the Hanford Cemetery. A Memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM in the Christian Reformed Church, 2175 Leoni Drive, Hanford.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Crossroads Pregnancy Center 206 W. Lacey Blvd., Suite A Hanford, Ca. 93230.

Family and Friends are invited to view Charles legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and write condolences.

Charles Sybesma

Eulogy

Charles Sybesma, Jr., also known as Charlie, Butch, Unner and Paca, was born October 20, 1927 to Charles and Jenny Baker Sybesma in Clearwater, CA in the Bellflower Artesia area. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family Saturday, January 20, 2018 in Hanford, CA at the age of 90.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years Freda, daughter Joann Dobrinin and husband Ed, daughter Debra and husband Jack; grandchildren Daniel Dobrinin and wife Heather, Douglas Dobrinin, Darla Dobrinin, Megan Boogaard Harris and husband Daniel, Elizabeth Boogaard Davis and husband Luke and Matthew Boogaard; great grandchildren Ethan Hovde, Campbell Hovde, Griffin Dobrinin, Nathaniel Harris and Elizabeth Harris.

Charlie was the 5th born of nine. His father passed away when he was 13, leaving himself and his brothers and sisters to operate the family dairy. It was a tough life for the family with out dad, but it also taught them the values of working hard, working together and the dairy life. He also loved going to the beach after work and riding his motorcycle.

For five years, Charlie operated a small dairy in Canoga Park until moving to Lemoore in 1965, to own and operate another dairy. Joannie and Deb remember getting lost in the fog that first winter in Lemoore. He later designed, built and operated a dairy on Iona Avenue in Hanford until retirement. He was extremely proud of his dairy, as it was his employment, hobby and social life. He was happiest just working on the dairy. The dairy also was a family operation with Freda doing the books and Joannie and Debbie doing everything but milking cows. The girls were the boys he never had. Debbie’s favorite memory of her dad was working along side of him. Joannie remembers her dad saying, “work together and take care of each other.” As the grandkids showed up he loved having them around the dairy and taking them to the donut shop in Armona.

Charlie loved the Lord and the old hymns. While living in Canoga Park, it provided some entertainment during late milkings singing in the barn at the top of his lungs. The problem was the neighbors did not appreciate the volume and called the sheriff because of the excess noise. Just two days before Charlie’s death, Debbie was playing an Alan Jackson CD of hymns and singing with Charlie. We also played the same CD as a calming effect as Charlie passed. You have probably noticed most of the music today is old hymns.

The family would like to recognize a few people: Thank you to Marlene Vander Moren for being the most thoughtful, caring, efficient caretaker for Charlie and Freda. We always knew you were taking very good care of them. Thank you to neighbor, Pastor Bob Needham, for being Charlie’s spiritual counselor especially the last several months. Charlie really appreciated your words of peace and encouragement. Thank you for also speaking today.

Thanks to our daughter, Beth Davis, for putting together the slide show and the memory table. Thank you to so many of you that visited or helped Charlie during these last years. Thank you to Pastor Sikkema for your guidance through this process and thank you to all of you for your support today and for loving Charlie.