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Note: OBITUARY: GARRY ALLAN VAN DER HYDE Garry Allan Van Der Hyde, ninth child and third son of Garret Van Der Hyde and Alydia Kats Van Der Hyde, was born on a farm near Long Island, Kansas, on October 4, 1934. He was baptized in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church located in the country near the family home. As a teenager he made public profession of his faith in Christ in that same church.
After attending grade school and graduating as valedictorian from high school in Long Island, he helped his father on the farm. His mother had passed on when Garry was 14 years old. Sometime after his graduation an opportunity arose for him to move to Goshen, New York, where his father’s cousin found a job for him on a dairy farm. On October 31, 1958, Garry married Kathleen Kuiken, daughter of the dairy farmer, and the two of them eventually operated their own dairy farm in Goshen while at the same time raising a family of nine sons and one daughter.
As the New York City metropolis began crowding in on their dairy operations, Garry and Kathleen moved their children and their cows to a farm in Chatham, Virginia, in 1980. The Van Der Hyde Dairy grew to the point to where presently nearly 1,100 Holstein cows provide milk to the surrounding cities. In addition, since 2010 the dairy has been converting animal waste into electricity.
Garry loved dairying and made it his occupation since 1978, but in his later years he gradually gave over the operation of the dairy to his sons and hired workers. Although his legs and back had weakened and walking was difficult, he, with his dog, kept close watch on the farm activity by riding his “Gator” to the various barns-the milking parlor, the calf enclosure, the grain storage, the “digester,” etc.
Retirement years gave him more opportunity to spend time with his hobby of wood-working. Many homes display lamps, clocks and coffee tables created by Garry’s skillful transformation of fallen trees into useful and beautiful objects. Another pleasure was joining other retired farmers at the nearby Hardee’s Restaurant for morning coffee.
Garry loved music and singing. From his teenage years when he sang in the high school madrigal, through the years he was a member of the Sheva Church of Christ and enjoyed their congregational singing, and even to his later years when he especially enjoyed singing at family reunions-harmonizing with some or all of his seven sisters and a brother--singing was one of his greatest pleasures. Today several members of his family carry on the singing tradition in various ways.
Garry entered into rest on May 15, 2017, at Chatham Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was 82 years old. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Kuiken Van Der Hyde; by one daughter, Kathy (Stan Moorefield) Van Der Hyde; nine sons, Allan (Diane) Van Der Hyde, Dan (Laura Sabados) Van Der Hyde, Mark (Melody) Van Der Hyde, John (Sarah) Van Der Hyde, Roy (Laurie) Van Der Hyde, Larry (Stacey Hamlett) Van Der Hyde, Steve (Stephanie) Van Der Hyde, Gregg (Kim) Van Der Hyde, and Kyle (Neva) Van Der Hyde; twenty-three grandchildren; three step grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren. Garry dearly loved all the members of his large family. Also surviving are three sisters:, Connie Nederveld, Trudy Vanderveen, and Mary Ham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were conducted at Sheva Church of Christ on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 11:00 am with Ministers Ron Voss and Larry Owen officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Sheva Church of Christ Building Fund, 4920 Chalk Level Rd. Chatham, VA 24531.
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