Henk Wiersma

Hendrik Wiersma, 73, was born June 18, 1943, in Abbega, Friesland, The Netherlands and passed away January 13, 2017, at home in Alta Loma, Calif. Hendrik, also known as Henk, Henry, and Hank, grew up in Abbega on his parents’ dairy. After his secondary education at the lyceum in Sneek, he attended the university in Leeuwarden before finding employment at an insurance company in Friesland. On January 13, 1966, at the age of 22 he emigrated to the United States finding work as a milker at the Siep and Burgie Sybrandy Dairy in Pomona, Calif. He met Rita Dykstra in September 1966 and married her in August 1968. Hendrik and Rita had their first child Roy in January 1970. A second child Jeanette was born in November 1971. Hendrik took courses in electronics at Chaffey College while working as a milker. After his uncle and aunt sold their dairy, he worked briefly at Matheson Gas Company before buying the Travelers Rest Motel in 1973 in Ontario, Calif. A third child Christina was born in January 1974 followed by their fourth child Richard born in August 1975. Hank and Rita operated the Travelers Rest Motel until selling it in late 1985. After selling the motel business he again enrolled at Chaffey College focusing primarily on courses in mathematics. He also spent a considerable amount of time hiking in the local San Gabriel Mountains and fishing at Puddingstone Lake and Silverwood Lake. Shortly after re-enrolling at Chaffey College he was hired as a math tutor in the Math Lab. He worked in this capacity first at the Alta Loma campus and later at the Chino campus until Christmas Break 2016. Hank really enjoyed listening to financial programs on the radio, chopping firewood, and going to church on Sundays. Hank is preceded in death by his parents Rients Wiersma (1899-1992) and Grietje Wiersma (1908-1994), and his brother Piet Wiersma (1941-2013) He is survived by his wife and children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Jentje Wiersma of Abbega, and brother Dirk Wiersma of Drachten, Friesland, The Netherlands.

Visitation/viewing will be at the Draper Mortuary Chapel from 10:00-11:00 am on Thursday, January 19, 2017. A service will be held in the same place from 11:00-noon.

Draper Mortuary is located at 811 N. Mountain Ave., Ontario, CA. Burial will be at 9 am Saturday, January 21, 2017, at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, CA.