Obituary: John “Joe” Tigchelaar | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Mr. John “Joe” Tigchelaar, 95, a former resident of Terra Ceia and Washington, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at Autumnfield Rest Home of Belhaven.

    A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church officiated by Rupert Wallace and Scott Askew. Mr. Joe will lie in state at the church from noon until the funeral hour. Burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Mike Lassiter, Rob Andrews, Danny Davis, Walter Harris Jr., Carl Harris, Daryl Harris, Scott Harris and Ryan Harris will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Joe’s nephews and great-nephews.

    Mr. Joe was born in Arum, Friesland, The Netherlands on Jan. 31, 1916, son of the late Evert Klass Tigchelaar and the late Sjoukje De Witte Tigchelaar. He moved to Canada where he met his true love, Gerda Van Staalduinen, and married her on March 11, 1943. She preceded him in death on May 12, 2009. They moved to Terra Ceia in 1948 where Mr. Joe provided for his family as owner and operator of his flower farm and many remember him delivering milk to area country stores and residents. Following his retirement from his flower farm, he worked at Hamilton Beach and Flanders Filters. At age 80, Mr. Joe completed his GED education and at that time was the oldest person in North Carolina to do so. He was a member of Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church where he served as a past Elder and served on the board of directors of Terra Ceia Christian School. Mr. Joe and Mrs. Gerda had a shared ministry of being foster parents of 18 children. In retirement they were very active in Relay for Life, JDRF and visitation of the sick and shut-ins. They both loved gardening.

    Mr. Joe is survived by two sons: John Tigchelaar of Denver, Colo., and James Tigchelaar and his wife Elaine of Washington; three daughters: Corry T. Harris and her husband Walter, Sr. of Pantego, Margaret Tigchelaar of Edenton and Carole T. Carrothers and her husband Tom of Zebulon; two sisters-in-law: Joan Tigchelaar and Martha Tigchelaar; nine grandchildren: Walter Harris Jr. and his wife Lisa of Pantego, Carl Harris and his wife Marsha of Winterville, James Daryl Harris and his wife Carlotta of Raleigh, Joshua Tigchelaar and his wife Cathy of Arvada, Colo., Mary Tigchelaar of Denver, Colo., Jamie Davis and her husband Danny of Wendell, Erica Lassiter and her husband Mike of Chocowinity, Jessica Andrews and her husband Rob of Washington and Angel Carrothers of Zebulon and 13 great grandchildren. Mr. Joe was preceded in death by two grandchildren: Ivan Tigchelaar and De Anna Nicole Tigchelaar; seven brothers: Clarence Tigchelaar and his wife Joyce, George Tigchelaar and his wife Betty, Robert Tigchelaar, Stewart Tigchelaar and his wife Anne, Bert Tigchelaar and his wife Tina, Arnold Tigchelaar and Maynard Tigchelaar and two sisters: Sylvia T. Dykstra Moermond and Flora T. Eisses and her husband John.

    The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2011, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington. Flowers are welcome and appreciated and the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions be made to Terra Ceia Christian School, 4428 Christian School Road, Pantego, NC 27860.

    “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus Our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39) NIV.

    Mr. Joe’s video tribute may be viewed (available Friday) and condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Tigchelaar family.