Obituary of Gerardus M. Houwaart

Gerardus M. "Jerry" Houwaart, age 85 of Lewiston NY, died Tuesday November 14, 2017 in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after a long illness.

Jerry was born October 26, 1932 in Jakarta, Indonesia, the son of the late Gerardus and Camshia Houwaart. He grew up in the Netherlands and worked as a welder. On November 5, 1955 he married Dorothea E. Vander Lee at De Hague, Holland and they moved to America in 1956 to live the dream.

Jerry was employed at the former Whitworth Motors, now known as Baldo Ford. In the 1980's he opened his own business, Hillview Auto Repair. He later worked at Modern Disposal and finally retired from CATCO Construction in Alden where he was a Deliveryman.

Jerry loved the outdoors and traveled to Alaska many times to hunt and fish. He recently celebrated his 85th birthday and on November 5th, his 62nd wedding anniversary. Most of all he loved his family and would often say "it all started with a kiss!"

He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothea; his daughters, Ann (Mark) Burnett of Ransomville, Dorothy (Michael) Nassoiy of Hamburg, Cheryl (Robert) Haslinger of Victor, NY, and Carol (Steve Diez) Houwaart-Diez of Palm City , FL; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren; three sisters, Ann Besseling and Corrie DeJoode of The Netherlands, and Femme Hilkhuysen of Arizona. He was predeceased by a brother, Kees Houwaart, and two sisters, Ietje Bernau and Jane VanderGaag.

Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville on Saturday, November 18, from 4 - 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Foundation, 621 Tenth St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301 or to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, C/O Dr. Griffiths Research, PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240.