Obituary of Sjoerd Ane Kiers

Sjoerd Ane Kiers, 80, of Tumwater, Washington, passed away on July 17, 2018 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Sjoerd was born on March 16, 1938 in Tiel, The Netherlands, to Roelof and Antje (Sysma) Kiers. The youngest of two boys, Sjoerd lost his brother Jan to childhood leukemia. The family immigrated to the United States in 1939 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Sjoerd graduated from Kirkwood High School and Calvin College. He married Joyce Rylaarsdam in 1960 and the couple moved to St. Louis, where Sjoerd earned his Master’s degree at Washington University. They settled in Tumwater in 1969. Sjoerd was employed by DSHS, Assured Home Health, and Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice, where he retired in 2014. He loved his job and spent most of his career as a social worker supporting patients (and their families) in hospice care.

He was a charter member of Olympia Christian Reformed Church, and was a member of Westwood Baptist Church for many years. He loved music, spending time with family, working in his yard, and traveling. The love of his life passed away after 54 years of marriage. Sjoerd is survived by children, Steven, Melissa Wood (Craig), and Roger (Denise); grandchildren, Lindsay (Josh), Jessica (Charlie), Brenna (Dan), Taylor, Nathan, Alan, Kylan (David), Allen, Hannah, and Phillip; and great-grandchildren, Madeline, Gracelyn, and Decker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Providence St. Peter Foundation or Bethany Christian Services.