Gerrit “Ty” Tyhuis was surrounded by his family when he was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on July 31 at the age of 89.

Gerrit was born on Oct. 13, 1925, in Nobleford, Alberta, Canada, to Henry and Johanna (Limbeck) Tyhuis.

When Gerrit was a year and a half old, the family moved with other Dutch immigrants to Whidbey Island.

His parents purchased a dairy farm south of Oak Harbor where Gerrit lived and worked.

He graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1943.

It was also in Oak Harbor where he met the love of his life, Irene Bultman. They were married on Dec. 17, 1948, and started their family.

In 1953, Gerrit and Irene purchased the family farm where they resided until 2010, when they moved to Oak Harbor.

In addition to milking cows, Gerrit raised potatoes which he sold to the U.S. Navy Commissary and other local stores and restaurants.

He also served as a board member for the Darigold Farm Co-op.

In 1965, he sold his dairy cows and went to work for the Western Farmers Association (currently Skagit Farmers Supply) for two years before joining Everett Brothers Construction, where he worked for 19 years until his retirement in 1989.

Gerrit continued to raise beef cattle on the farm and loved to garden, which helped feed the family as well as friends and relatives.

Gerrit also enjoyed taking his kids on vacations and camping trips.

He found great pleasure in visiting and talking to anyone he met, co-workers, contractors, fellow campers and, most importantly, his family.

Gerrit was an active member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church for 67 years, where he served in a number of capacities such as elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Irene; daughter, Marlene (Bernie) Charvet of Grandview, Wash.; son, Gerry (Pam) Tyhuis of Kennewick, Wash.; son, Rich (Pam) Tyhuis of Oak Harbor; son, Doug (Rose) Tyhuis of Grandview, Wash.; and son, Bob (Gina) Tyhuis of Echo, Ore.; grandchildren, Julie Tyhuis, Becky (Dan) James, Brian (Kirsten) Tyhuis, Ryan (Sara) Tyhuis, Krista (Robi) Gustafson, Stacy (Jason) Rich, Chrissie Voyles, Jenny (Jessey) Adcock, Melanie (Ryan) McCarthy, Brent Tyhuis, Tad Tyhuis, Sarah Tyhuis and Brent Lee Tyhuis; and 18 great-grandchildren. Gerrit was preceded in death by his father, mother, two brothers and three sisters.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 7. at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church.

If you wish, memorials may be given to the Oak Harbor Christian School.