Memories of Gerrit

Dear Anna Mae and the entire de Graaf family,

We were so sad to hear that Gerrit had passed away, and would like to extend our condolences to all of you.
It is so good to know that you are not grieving as people without hope, but rather rejoicing in the knowledge that he is in a much better place now. We'd like to share this hymn:

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

The obituary describes Gerrit so well. We got to know him only ten years ago and have many fond memories of him.
We still recall one of the first times we met and he loudly exclaimed that, "Now I know for sure that we are related, it's 5 generations back, but still!" Or the time in Oklahoma at Alan Ritchie's sale where Gerrit was buying cow after cow!  Or hearing him tell about all the Dutch proverbs and sayings he was getting together to write them all down. Or visiting at Brad and Barb's where we went kayaking together on the lake. Gerrit was 80 years old at that time! And shortly after that a bicycle rider (Gerrit) walked into our office in Plainview to be picked up by Anna Mae. These are some of the memories we have of Gerrit. He was loved by all of us.

John & Pauline DeVos & family