Gerdina Huenink

Gerdina Johanna “Dien” Huenink, age 98, of Park Rapids, MN peacefully entered eternity on Monday December 7, 2015 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids, MN. Dien was born on August 9, 1917 in The Hauge, The Netherlands to Gerardus and Gerdina (VerBoog) Heekelaan. It was in this same area that she attended public schools and grew into womanhood. On Oct. 12, 1939 she was united into marriage to Carolus “Karl” Hutten in The Hauge, The Netherlands. They were blessed with one daughter, Astrid Jacoba Antonious. Three months after the birth of their new baby daughter, Dien’s husband, who was a soldier in the Holland Army, was taken to a German Concentration Camp where he was imprisoned until the end of the war. Dien’s strength and love for her husband and daughter helped her survive until her husband was returned after the war. He was skin and bone, and lucky to have survived the ordeal. In 1950, Dien moved with her husband and daughter to Indonesia where Karl would work in the printing business. They lived in Surabaja and then Malang, in the higher elevations, until 1953. From there, Dien and her family returned to the Netherlands and lived in Voorburg, Amsterdam, and then Rotterdam for a time before they made their way to Minneapolis in 1957. Dien will be lovingly remembered for enriching her family and friend’s lives with her desire to give everyone the experience of living in a “gezellig” home. “Gezellig” is a Dutch word which loosely translated to English means a feeling of welcoming, coziness, warmth, security, and love. She was a wonderful cook who specialized in Indonesian cuisine known as “rysttafal”. Dien was a hard worker and toiled by her husband’s side as they experienced the “American dream” by building their own home. She helped mix and pour concrete, hauling it in wheelbarrows, and helped Karl lay block and nail 2x4’s. Dien enjoyed gardening and maintaining a beautiful yard. Later in life, she came to enjoy golf and became quite an expert. She deeply mourned the death of her husband Karl in 1986. Several years later, Dien was united in marriage to Orville “Bud” Huenink in June 12, 1993. She and Bud enjoyed traveling throughout the world and living life to the fullest. She was saddened by the death of Orville in January of this past year. Dien is survived by her beloved daughter, Astrid Bortz; Grandchildren, Liz McDermott, Deborah Palumbo, Owen Trout; Greatgrandchildren, Kellie Palumbo and Jacob Palumbo; Nephew, Ben (Alida) Rampaart; Great-nephews, Paul and Peter Rampaart. Dien is also survived by her second husband’s children, David (Louise) Huenink, Patricia (Randy) Adams, and Cheryl (Oliver) Limberg. Dien is preceeded in death by her parents, Gerardus and Gerdina Heekelaar; sisters, Toos VanDeerMeer-Hutton, and Els Rampaart; brothers, Joop Heekelar and Martin Heekelaar; several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 2 PM Saturday, December 19, 2015 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home. Urn bearers will be Liz McDermott, Deborah Palumbo, Owen Trout and Jacob Palumbo. To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com.