Tributes

It is with great sadness that the family of Peter John Duimstra announce his passing on February 17th, 2025. He and his loving wife, Barbara, met when they were 14 years of age while attending Belvidere High School. Their love blossomed, they married and raised 4 children in their beloved home town of Belvidere, NJ where they still have numerous friends and family. Born in Dover, NJ on October 14th, 1937, Peter was the son of the late Louis J. and Frances DeJong Duimstra who immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands. He was a member of the New Jersey State Police for 25 years, retiring in 1984 as a lieutenant. After retiring from the NJ State Police, he worked for Aetna Insurance as a claims investigator. He and his loving wife, Barbara, moved from Belvidere, NJ to his final residence in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1997. In his golden years, he was employed by Myrtle Beach National golf course. It is said he was coerced into taking this final job by his friends Roger Learn and Phil Cotton (also from Belvidere, NJ), but the family believes he took the position to support his avid love for golf and happy hours on the 19th hole. Peter always had a smile for friends and family and was quick to share a joke. He enjoyed playing softball and hunting & fishing with his children when he wasn’t attending one of their school or extracurricular activities. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, instilling his love for sports, academics and work ethic into his family. While raising his family in Belvidere, he was very active in his local community. Peter was a member of the Belvidere Rotary Club where he served as President and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as chairman of the Belvidere Planning Board and as a member of the Belvidere Pool Association. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara (formerly Vannatta), to whom he was married for over 60 years and they raised 4 children: daughter Vicki and her husband Marinus Peters of Manheim, PA, son Daniel (predeceased Peter) and his wife Beth of Brick, NJ, son Thomas and wife Anna of East Brunswick, NJ and son John P. and Robin of Montpelier, VA. Peter is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He had 6 siblings and is survived by 2 sisters: Theresa Gaisler of State College, PA and Sharon Roof of Bangor, PA. Sisters Frances & Anne and brothers Fred & Jacob predeceased him. A celebration of the man, the myth, the legend will be held at Goldfinch Funeral Homes Beach Chapel in Murrells Inlet, SC at 3 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025 with refreshments following the service.

Tributes

Peter J. Duimstra

October 11, 1937 - February 17, 2025