June 29, 1929 - December 4, 2014
COOPERSTOWN - Fred Dykstra, a realtor, builder, farmer and family man, passed away late Thursday night, December 4, 2014, at his home in the Town of Hartwick. He was 85.
Born June 29, 1929, in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, he was one of 10 children of Richard and Frances (Minnema) Dykstra. Raised in New Jersey, he was a graduate of Ramsey High School.
After high school, Fred entered into active service with the United States Marine Corps and proudly served his country during the Korean War. He received his honorable discharge from the military having attained the rank of Lance Corporal.
In 1957 Fred married Fernande "Nonnie" Deligny in Monsey.
Fred and Nonnie moved from Campbell Hall in 1977 and settled in the Cooperstown area. They owned and operated Otsego Hills Farm in Pierstown until 1986, when he started Dykstra Construction, Inc. with his sons, Fred and Karl. This company builds fine homes in the Cooperstown area.
Fred always loved boating, fishing and most of all cherished time spent with family and friends. He will be remembered for honesty, vision and determination.
Fred is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Nonnie, of Cooperstown; three sons and their families: Fred Dykstra, Jr., wife Lorrie and children Vanessa and Trenton; Karl Dykstra, wife Catherine and children Karl, William, Julie and Elizabeth; and Eric Dykstra, wife Maureen and daughters Victoria and Olivia; three daughters: Joanne Osterhoudt, husband Bruce and children Justin, Amanda, Lucas and Cassandra; Jeanine Harter, husband Jason and daughter Janelle; and Jerilynn Bachanas, husband Bruce and his daughters Whitney, Kelsey, and Lillian, and Whitney's son, Connor.
He is further survived by one brother, Robert "Bob" Dykstra and wife Meredith; one sister, Frances Butscher, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers, Frank, John, Peter, Tunis, Sidney ("Sid") and Richard ("Hick") Dykstra, Jr.; and one sister, Jeanette Shuart.
Fred's family will receive friends at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, on Saturday morning, December 13, 2014, from 10 a.m. until 12Noon.
A Funeral Service will be offered at the funeral home at 12 Noon on Saturday, with the Rev. William H. Delia, pastor of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be private at a later date next spring in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek.
As an alternative to flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Hartwick Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 208, Hartwick, NY 13348, Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.