Harry A. Heuts

Henricus “Harry” Alidus Heuts, 92, formerly of Sanford, passed away on January 22, 2017 at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh following a brief illness. Born on March 9, 1924 in Amsterdam; Harry was the son of the late Piet and Gertruida Jacobs Heuts. He was drawn to the sea at an early age, attended the Maritime Academy in Rotterdam, Netherlands completing a degree in Master Shipping and Transport. Upon graduation he went to sea with the Dutch East Indies Company transporting goods between Holland and Indonesia.

Harry and his first wife, Anna and family moved from the Netherlands to Chicago Heights, Il in 1961. He started a career with Great Lakes Shipping Company until he joined the staff at Amoco International. Harry worked there for 17 years as Manager of Marine Vessel Transportation before retiring to Zebulon, NC. After the passing of his first wife, Anna, and while traveling in the Galapagos Islands he met and later married Kathryn Lee of Washington Court House, OH in 1996. They lived in nearby Sanford for 15 years where he was a member of St Stevens Catholic Church. Most recently he had been attending St. Michael the Archangel in Cary.

In his youth Harry played soccer and tennis. He jogged and walked many years and was still exercising all the way until the end. He took up golf at the age of 80 and played 9 holes just 4 months ago. When he retired he became a Master Gardener growing organic vegetables, gladly sharing the harvest with friends. Harry loved history, particularly Dutch and American history and he was an avid reader, averaging a book a week. He and Kathy traveled extensively all over the world missing only the Arctic and Antarctic continents. Harry’s wonderful sense of humor was one of his greatest attributes.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, by his first wife, Anna, and by his son, Frankie. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Lee Heuts; by four children: Robert Heuts and wife Darlene, of Cary, NC, Luke Heuts and wife Shannon, of Zebulon, NC, Joanne Sarros and husband John, of Crete, IL, and Gerrie Heuts of Ferrisburgh, VT; and Kathryn’s children; Cynthia Lee of Studio City, CA, Douglas of New Albany, OH, Megan Lee of New York, NY, and Gwen Lyons of Bend, OR; by his grandchildren; Jeremy Atlas and husband Todd, Arin Sarros and wife Jessica, Brooke Heuts and partner Braedyn Mallard, Ryan Sarros, Lucy Lieberman, Sam Lieberman, Anna Heuts, Elliott Heuts, Harrison Heuts, Landon Hinkle; great grandchildren; Evan Atlas, Henry Sarros; sibling: Truus Hunnekens of Gemert, the Netherlands; and other family and friends.

A Liturgy of the Word will be held on Friday, January 27 at 11 am at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary, NC. A reception will follow the service, with graveside services to be held at 3 pm at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens in Zebulon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Rex Healthcare Foundation Cancer Center Angel Fund.