Henry John Hiddinga Sr.

Henry Hiddinga was born November 15, 1922 on the family farm outside of Califon, NJ.

Dad grew up on a dairy farm during the Great Depression, where he was my grandfather’s main hired hand. When his father passed away in 1942, the family moved to Patterson, NJ.

In Dec 1943, at age 21, dad enlisted into the US Navy. In March 1944 his ship went to Pearl Harbor, then on to the Marshall Islands, Brisbane AUS, Port Moresby NZ, the Coral Sea, and Subic Bay, PHIL. Following the Japanese surrender, the fleet returned to Norfolk, VA where dad was honorably discharged. From NJ dad traveled to Wheaton, IL where he met and married Geraldine Nelson.

Dad started preaching while mom was attending Wheaton College. They moved to Tippecanoe, IN where dad preached at the Tippecanoe Bible Church. In 1958, the family moved to CO where dad became the preacher at Castle Rock Baptist Church. He ministered to many people in this area for the next thirty years until he retired in 1978. Upon retiring, mom and dad moved into their home at 3303 Wolfensberger Rd where they lived until moms passing in April, 2018. In the fall of 2018, we moved dad to Cottonwood, AZ, close to his daughters home.

In their spare time, mom and dad enjoyed “jeeping” and exploring in their beloved Colorado mountains. During their retirement, mom and dad traveled in their motorhome.

He is survived by two children: Jerrith and Kyle Weir of Cottonwood AZ,, and Dr Henry and Patty Hiddinga of Louisville, KY ; five grandchildren: Laura, Ric Weir, Jaime Hiddinga, Allison Padron, Erika Hiddinga, and four great grandchildren.