Herman Visser was born with his twin sister, Hermena Visser, on Feb. 20, 1937. He was one of 12 kids to Henry and Maggie Visser of Amsterdam, Mont. Herm entered Heaven’s gates to the waiting arms of Jesus Nov. 28, 2020.
Herman never met a stranger, he only met friends.
Herman married Marilyn Naomi Anderson Aug. 8, 1959 in Seattle, Wash. During his time in Seattle he worked at Boeing. A friend told him he would be a good funeral director, so Herman and Marilyn moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in mortuary science.
Herman then worked in Huron, S.D., and then Whitefish, Mont. He then worked as a pastor at the Rawlins Church of the Nazarene in Rawlins, Wyo. After working there for a few years, he went back into funeral service working in Bellingham Wash., Centralia, Wash., Colfax, Wash., and then eventually purchasing Visser Funeral Home in Langley, Wash., where the family lived for about 20 years.
1995 Herman and Marilyn retired from the funeral home and moved to Roosevelt, Minn., to be close to their kids and grandkids. Herman worked for Marvin Windows in several different departments. He was a caregiver to Mr. Bill Marvin and then worked part time at the Marvin Visitor Center until he completely retired. He and Marilyn lived on their “Little Piece of Paradise” in Roosevelt until Marilyn’s death in 2003.
After retirement, he married Patsy Loper, of Saint Jo, Texas, where they spent most of the winter months. Pat and dad also spent a couple winters in Mississippi working at a second hand store mission.
Herman was an avid fisherman. You could find him many days of the week in his little boat on Lake of the Woods.
Herm was involved in the Warroad Baptist Church enjoying the men’s Bible studies and the Prime Timers Group. You would often hear him quoting his favorite verse from Ps 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” This was more than just words to Herm, this is what he truly believed. He lived his life, so others would see Jesus in him.
He is survived by his wife Patsy Loper; daughters Darla (Gerald) Hitner and Denise (Jon) Grussing; two stepdaughters, Cathy (John) Thompson and Sharon (Paul) Giffen; son-in-law John (Tamara) Quibodeaux; brother-in-law Merrill (Connie) Anderson; two sisters, Jeanette and Mary; four brothers, Cornie, Pete, Arie and Les; grandsons David Forney, Jamie (Aimee) Forney, Chad (Wenche) Quibodeaux, Chris (Julie) Quibodeaux, Kyle (Heather) Hitner, Ashley Hitner, Amy (Chip) Peterson; and 16 great grandchildren, Aubrey and Jackson (Forney), Grace, Greta, and Gabe (Forney), Aria (Quibodeaux), Jacob, Naomi, and Caleb (Quibodeaux), Olivia, Toby, Eden, and Brian (Hitner), Lily, Connor (Hitner) and Vivian (Peterson).
Herman was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 44 years, Marilyn Visser, his grandson Clint Quibodeaux; twin sister Hermena; sister Bertha; brothers Ike, Bud and Al; sisters-in-law Sandy, Bernice, Gerry and Nel; and brother-in-law Harry.
Services were held 11 a.m. Dec. 2, 2020 at the Warroad Baptist Church with a live stream for those shut in or at a distance. Interment will be at Silent City Cemetery.
Helgeson Funeral Chapel, Warroad, in charge of arrangements.
