In Memory of Dad Houweling

On Thurday, the 15th of January, 2015, the Lord took home one of His children, and our father and grandfather, Teunis Houweling. His task here on this earth was complete and with minimal suffering, he entered into eternal glory at the age of 86.

We continue to stand amazed at the providential timing of Steve's trip to Australia where he could spend quality time with his dad and mum. During this time, he could take them on a number of outings, spend one to one time with his Dad and so commit these precious times to memory. God is good.

We pray to for Mum too now that she is on her own without having Dad by her side.

Wedding Day

50th Wedding Anniversary

Father and son (Stephen!)

The many faces of Dad!

The funeral was held on Wednesday, 28th of January, 2015. Some family members face timed the event which allowed us to be 'part' of the funeral which helped bridge the distance. Very thankful for technology! Dad's sister Tante Fien and John and Veronica came and together we watched the funeral.

The following was included in the booklet.

Teunis Houweling

October 27, 1928  - January 15, 2015

Teunis Houweling was born to Cornelius and Hester Houweling on October 27, 1928 in Capelle a/d Ijssel, The Netherlands. He was the sixth of ten children: Cornelius, Leny, Jan, Steef, Hester, Hans, Netty, Fien and Herman.

During the war and the occupation of Holland by the Germans, times became increasingly difficult for him and the last months of the war, due to severe food shortages, he was sent to the North of Holland to stay and work on a farm. 

Following the war he worked in his father’s drogist (drug shop) where he developed an interest in pharmaceuticals which would later earn him a position at the Swanborne Graylands hospital pharmacy as a pharmaceutical dispenser.  After World War II, at the age of 22, he decided to migrate to Australia after viewing a film of the Great South Land.  He left Holland by himself and migrated to Australia on-board “De Groote Beer” arriving in Fremantle in June 1951.  The early years after arriving in Australia were difficult for Dad as he needed to adjust to a new country’s language and culture.   Work also wasn’t easy to get and he spent time working in carpentry and also six months in Westfarmers in Carnarvon.

Shortly after arrival in Australia, dad joined the Presbyterian Church of Perth and on one of the first Sundays was invited by John Vandenberg to the Vandenberg house for coffee.  There he met Johanna Vandenberg and they were married on April 30^th 1955.

After nine years of marriage, the Lord blessed Dad and Mum with a son John.   The Lord continued to bless Dad and Mum with 5 more children; Henry, Agatha, Timothy, Stephen and Philip.   Over the years of the Lord blessed Dad (and Mum) with 36 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.  

Dad was hard-working and loyal in his work as a pharmaceutical assistant at the Graylands Hospital, where he worked for over 38 years.   He enjoyed taking the family on summer holidays to different places such as Albany, Margaret River, Busselton, Coogee (with the Coogee gang), and Kalbarri (with the Strating family).  On many of the Public Holidays Dad loved to take the family out for a daytrip and picnic lunch or BBQ. 

Dad was a loving and dedicated, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.  Dad was faithful to the vows that he made in Church before many witnesses.   The Lord worked through him in the office of elder in which he served a number of times.  He placed his trust in the Lord and confessed that Jesus Christ is his Saviour. After spending eleven days in hospital, the Lord, in His time on 15^th January 2015, called His servant Teunis Houweling home to himself into eternal glory.  And so together with Paul, Dad can now say….I’ve fought the good fight, I’ve finished the race, I’ve kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, has awarded to me (2 Timothy 4:7)

We here in Lynden were amazed and very thankful at the overwhelming communion of saints we received by way of cards, emails, messages and in person. 

"The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; blessed be the Name of the Lord".
 Job 1:21