My Cousin Gerard

My cousin Gerard passed away Saturday night. I remeber playing at Tante Dina and Ome Gerard's house as a little girl when he was a teenager. He had a wonderful laugh, a beautiful collie dog, and surprised my Opa Van Leer when he brought a girl to meet Opa that spoke Dutch. We will miss Gerard. I "borrowed" the picture and obit from Russon Brothers Mortuary website.

Gerardus J Van Hulten
Born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Jun. 6, 1943Departed on May 24, 2008 and resided in West Bountiful, UT.

Visitation:
Friday, May 30, 2008
Service:
Friday, May 30, 2008
Cemetery:
Bountiful City Cemetery
Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.

Our beloved husband, father, son and brother passed away late Saturday night May 24, 2008. Van, as many called him, was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on June 6th 1943. He immigrated to the United States in July of 1950 with his family at the age of 7, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th. He attended high school at Bountiful High graduating in 1962. He would be called on an LDS mission later that year to his native country of The Netherlands where he served for two and a half years. Upon returning home he would marry his own little Dutch girl (Pearl Straatman) in the Salt Lake Temple in November of 1966. Continuing on at Weber University he studied automotive engineering, where his college education was interrupted by a call to serve in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After returning from duty in Vietnam, Pearl and Van would make their home in Farmington where he owned and operated Van's Auto Repair. After sixteen years of marriage they would adopt a baby girl named Heather and two years later adopt their son Jeffrey. Moving to West Bountiful in 1984 Van would continue running Van's Auto repair until 2000 when Van would start his own car dealership, Van's Auto Sales. Van would serve faithfully in his church callings, and would never shirk a moment to help another. He loved to travel weekly for business and always had a fond love for cars. Van passed away from complications due to an injury in his shop while doing what he loved most, working on cars. He will be sorely missed by all he leaves behind. He loved helping out anyone in need and never thought twice about giving all he could to those he loved. He loved to laugh, enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, and was an avid NASCAR fan. We will all miss you and the beautiful things you taught by example. Van is survived by his wife of 42 years, Pearl, his children Heather (Wade Reese), and Jeffrey, his mother Arendina, his brother Leen, his sister Gonnie (Don Buell), his brothers and sisters in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his father Gerardus J. Van Hulten Sr., his sister-in-law Mary lynn Van Hulten, and his mother and father in-law Daniel and Neeltje Straatman.Funeral services will be held Friday May 30th at 11 a.m. at the West Bountiful 10th ward Chapel 1750 North 900 West, West Bountiful. Friends and family may call on Friday morning from 9:30-10:45 at the church prior to the services.Interment, Bountiful City Cemetery.