1938
Durk
2020
Durk Gerrit Klaas Visser
August 16, 1938 — October 22, 2020
Durk Gerrit Klaas Visser — husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend — passed away on October 22, 2020 in Yuma, Arizona after a battle with cancer and Parkinson’s disease. He was 82.
Durk was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on August 16th, 1938, growing up in Leeuwarden until his parents took their seven children to America in 1950 to find a better life. They settled in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He quit school after the 8th grade so he could work full-time to help his family. Despite this, Durk never stopped learning — he was a fountain of knowledge with an unmatched work ethic. As an adult, he worked even harder to provide for his own family. But even with his busy schedule as a self-employed building contractor, he always made his wife and kids his top priority and took plenty of time off when he could for road trips, horseback riding, camping, and volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the Silver Beaver award.
Durk met Cathy on a blind date in 1958 and got married less than six months later. As life-long members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed in the Salt Lake City temple, raised 3 children, and loved each other for 46 years.
Music held an important role in his life. Playing the harmonica and having a wonderful singing voice, he would often accompany Cathy as she played the accordion or ukulele. When they retired, they went full-time in their
RV, and helped lead a group of traveling senior musicians called The Frustrated Maestros. They travelled the country performing at various events, large and small, gaining quite a reputation within certain circles.
Durk is preceded in death by his wife, Cathryn Woolsey Visser; his parents, Durk and Maria Visser; his sisters, Pietje (and Joseph) Van der Meide and Freida Whiting; and his grandson, Sean Ellison.
He is survived by his three children, Jean “CJ” (and Ron) Ellison, Jim Visser, and John (and Dawn) Visser; his sisters, Minke (and Yosho) Shigoka, Maria (and Ken) Isakson, and Mirjam (and Jerry) Duffin; his brother, John (and Anne) Visser; eight grandchildren, eight great- grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and his close friend, Alejandra Bustamante.
The family would like to give our gratitude to the caring staff at River Valley Estates and to Hospice of Yuma (with special heart-felt thanks to his nurse, Cristin), for taking such wonderful care of Durk when he needed it.
A small graveside service will be held on Friday, October 30th at 2pm at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery (3115 E. Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121). Should you choose to attend, the family asks that you please practice safe distancing.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that a donation be made to a cancer or Parkinson’s disease charity of your choice.Service Information
Graveside Service
October 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm
3115 E Bengal Blvd Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Durk was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on August 16th, 1938, growing up in Leeuwarden until his parents took their seven children to America in 1950 to find a better life. They settled in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He quit school after the 8th grade so he could work full-time to help his family. Despite this, Durk never stopped learning — he was a fountain of knowledge with an unmatched work ethic. As an adult, he worked even harder to provide for his own family. But even with his busy schedule as a self-employed building contractor, he always made his wife and kids his top priority and took plenty of time off when he could for road trips, horseback riding, camping, and volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the Silver Beaver award.
Durk met Cathy on a blind date in 1958 and got married less than six months later. As life-long members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed in the Salt Lake City temple, raised 3 children, and loved each other for 46 years.
Music held an important role in his life. Playing the harmonica and having a wonderful singing voice, he would often accompany Cathy as she played the accordion or ukulele. When they retired, they went full-time in their
RV, and helped lead a group of traveling senior musicians called The Frustrated Maestros. They travelled the country performing at various events, large and small, gaining quite a reputation within certain circles.
Durk is preceded in death by his wife, Cathryn Woolsey Visser; his parents, Durk and Maria Visser; his sisters, Pietje (and Joseph) Van der Meide and Freida Whiting; and his grandson, Sean Ellison.
He is survived by his three children, Jean “CJ” (and Ron) Ellison, Jim Visser, and John (and Dawn) Visser; his sisters, Minke (and Yosho) Shigoka, Maria (and Ken) Isakson, and Mirjam (and Jerry) Duffin; his brother, John (and Anne) Visser; eight grandchildren, eight great- grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and his close friend, Alejandra Bustamante.
The family would like to give our gratitude to the caring staff at River Valley Estates and to Hospice of Yuma (with special heart-felt thanks to his nurse, Cristin), for taking such wonderful care of Durk when he needed it.
A small graveside service will be held on Friday, October 30th at 2pm at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery (3115 E. Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121). Should you choose to attend, the family asks that you please practice safe distancing.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that a donation be made to a cancer or Parkinson’s disease charity of your choice.Service Information
Graveside Service
October 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm
3115 E Bengal Blvd Cottonwood Heights, Utah
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