Bert Anton Zylstra

Bert Anton Zylstra, 84, was called home to eternal life in Heaven by his Savior and Lord on May 12, 2014 after a 3 year battle with prostate cancer. Bert was born June 6, 1929 to Dutch parents Andries Zylstra and Wilhelmina (Bartels) Zylstra in the town of Sigli on the island of Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). He moved to Haarlem Holland with his family when he was six years old and lived there until he entered the Royal Dutch Air Force for eight years of service as a staff sergeant specializing in airplane radar equipment.

In 1957, Bert immigrated to the United States. In Denver he worked as a TV repairman, owning his own shop some of those years. He became a United States citizen in 1964. On June 20, 1965 he married the love of his life, Joanne Mae Osbourn. The next year they moved to Kansas City to take a job with IBM where Bert repaired big mainframe computers for 25 years, earning the IBM Means Service award, joining the Quarter Century Club and then retiring in 1991. They enjoyed many memorable trips to see Bert’s family in Holland over the years. Bert was the ultimate soccer fan, playing soccer in his youth in Holland, coaching his son’s soccer team and enjoying season tickets for every KC soccer team in town over the years.

Bert and Joanne were blessed with a son, Andries James Zylstra and a daughter, Christine Mae (Zylstra) Kline. Both survive their Dad along with four wonderful grandchildren Jacob Richard Kline (14), Olivia Nicole Zylstra (13), Megan Elizabeth Kline (11), and Nicholas Andries Zylstra (10). Also surviving Bert are his son-in-law, Richard Kline and his daughter-in-law, Christeena Zylstra. Bert was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest sister, Wilhelmina. Surviving family members in Holland include his only brother, Anton Zylstra and three dear sisters, Tineke, Theresia and Els.

Bert was a member of Nall Avenue Baptist Church for 22 years where he came to a saving faith in Jesus and was baptized through the loving ministry of Rev. Owen C. Dahlor. Bert was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and active in the JOY Group and choir. Bert and Joanne led Children’s Church for nine years. Bert has been a member of Mission Road Bible Church for nine years, singing in the choir and helping with the building renovation. He treasured dear neighbors and many fine friends at the Roeland Park Community Center. He was a good and generous man, and had a great love for dark chocolate.

During their retirement years, Bert and Joanne loved traveling in their R-V to visit family and friends and to praise God for the beauty of the national parks, in addition to three marvelous cruises and great sight-seeing in Canada. Most recently Bert and Joanne enjoyed loving their four grandkids, taking them on outings to the zoo, the park, the swimming pool, Science City, museums, celebrating birthdays and holidays together, and cheering for them at their sports games.

Visitation will be at 1 pm with the services at 2 pm on Saturday May 17th. McGilley & Hoge Funeral Home, 8024 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to City Union Mission 1100 East 11th Street Kansas City, MO 64106 or The Salvation Army 3637 Broadway Street Kansas City, MO. 64111.