Henry Joseph Atema

Henry Joseph Atema, age 88, passed away peacefully and went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 20, 2025.

Henry was born on March 23, 1937, in Hawthorne, to Joseph and Jessie (Steiginga) Atema.

A devoted man of faith, Henry grew up in the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Paterson, where he served as a deacon. Bethel CRC later merged and became the Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church in Wyckoff. Henry and Trudy are presently members of Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne. 

Henry graduated from Eastern Academy, Class of 1953. He owned and operated his own trucking company and was associated with Garden State Farms. Later in life he drove a home delivery fuel truck for Shotmeyer Oil Company.

Henry married the love of his life, Trudy (Groendyk) on October 4, 1957. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Lori and her husband Henry Groenewal; Lisa  and her husband William Soodsma; and Michael Atema and his wife Sharon (Veenstra) . They were also blessed with 11 grandchildren, Kelly Chua (RJ), Paul Groenewal (Rebecca), Brian Groenewal (Lara), Kristen Kool (Levi), Bridget Rainville (Daniel), Rachel Hansen (Daniel), Ryan Soodsma, Olivia, Adelynn, Noah, and Nicholas Atema. 20 great-grandchildren, Morgan & James Chua, Liam, Nelly, and Lucy Groenewal, Emma, Dirk, Loren, Ludy & Cayden Groenewal, Preston, Leo & Weslie Kool, Ava, Tommy & Lia Rainville, and Lucas, Lola, Carla and Benjamin Hansen.

Henry was predeceased by his sisters, Joan DeBruin and Annetta De Jong.

Funeral Services will be held privately at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff officiated by Henry's grandson-in-law, Pastor Daniel Rainville of Bethany Church, Wyckoff.

Memorial contributions in Henry's name may be made to Bethany Church, 568 Wellington Drive, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 or Hawthorne Gospel Mission Fund, 2000 St. Hwy 208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.