Cornelis Jacobus Byeman passed away on Friday, November 28, 2003 at the age of 88.
He was born on June 23, 1915 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Jacobus Adrianus and Christina Byeman. He was to be the oldest of 11 children. The family grew up on the Kemperstraat in Amsterdam in a 2 bedroom apartment. In 1938 Cornelis married Pearl Van Weerdhuizen; they had 3 children, Tena, Gerrit and Jack. They lived in Amsterdam during World War II. Cornelis was a member of the Dutch army prior to the German occupation and worked for the City of Amsterdam transportation department, leaving there after 21 years as Chief of the Office of General Affairs.
In 1952 Cornelis immigrated with his family to the Lynden area and soon got into the insurance and real estate business. He was a founding partner of Noteboom, Byeman and Hendricks in Lynden, selling insurance and real estate. He became a real estate broker specializing in selling dairy farms and in several instances over the years he sold the same farm more than once.
In 1956 Cornelis lost his wife, Pearl, to a sudden illness. He married Frances Bierlink the following year. They met after Frances had been in a car accident and needed to deal with her insurance agent about the accident. In 1959 they were blessed with daughter Karen. Frances passed away in October of 2001.
Cornelis was also preceded in death by brother Jan, brother Co, sister Coba Corba and granddaughter Deloris Byeman.
He is survived by daughter Tena Vander Werff and husband Warren of Lummi Island; son Gerrit and wife Arlene of Bellingham; son Jack and wife Mary Ann of Redmond, WA.; daughter Karen Kok and husband Joel of Lynden; 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; brother Ru and wife Letta of Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands; sister Nel Zomerdijk of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; brother Hank and wife Barbara of Prince George, British Columbia; sister Janny Lehmann and husband Paul of Redmond, WA.; brother Fred and wife Elly of Marysville, WA.; sister Adrie Van Beilen and husband Bareld of Amstelveen, The Netherlands and sister Greetje Bovenkamp and husband Co of Uithoorn, The Netherlands.
Memorials may be made to Lynden Christian School, 417 Nookask Ave. and Lynden’s Christian Health Care Center, 855 Aaron Dr., both Lynden 98264.
