Obituary of Robert van Dijk

Robert van Dijk (1943-2015)  Gerard Robert van Dijk, 72, passed away peacefully in Provo, Utah on Friday August 28, 2015 at 1:35 a.m. surrounded by his family. Robert was born in Utrecht, Netherlands on May 18, 1943 to Gerrit Christiaan van Dijk and Albertje Louise Cornelia (Boumeester). Robert’s dear wife and high school sweetheart, Kathleen Smedley van Dijk; his son, David Michael van Dijk; his beautiful daughter, Christine (van Dijk) Barger; his son, Stephen Daniel van Dijk; his son, Philip Matthew van Dijk; and his son, Mark James van Dijk continue the journey of life in his absence. Robert and Kathleen have 16 grandchildren. Raised in Utrecht, Robert immigrated to the United States in 1954 to Utah with his parents and his sister, Alby (van Dijk) Jackson. Robert graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and began working as an accountant at BYU in 1969, retiring in 2005. Robert served an honorable LDS mission to the Netherlands for 2 ½ years. When he returned, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Smedley, in 1966 in the Salt Lake Temple. Robert sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1970-1979. He also served at the Mount Timpanogos Temple and the Launfal Foundation in American Fork. Robert was a quiet, soft-spoken man who was immediately loved and respected by anyone who met him. He enjoyed playing the piano and organ and was very musically inclined. Robert was a master gardener and kept an immaculate garden. He enjoyed collecting seashells, stamps, and books. He was an avid reader with an impressive library of books, all of which he had read several times. Robert enjoyed flying gigantic kites with his children and grandchildren, sailing his sailboats – Take Time I and Take Time II, and building pinewood derby cars with his sons. He enjoyed frequent road trips to southern Utah and the Oregon Coast with his wife. Robert was active in both his church and community. Robert led an exemplary life of service and love. Becoming a great scholar of the Gospel, he taught more by his example than by any other means. Always thoughtful of others, he was truly a quiet and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Obituaries sometimes attempt to make people sound better than they actually were in real life-- not so with Robert. He was every bit the gentleman and was one of the most generous, gracious, kind people who ever lived. A viewing will be held on the evening of Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at the Anderson & Sons Mortuary located at 49 East 100 North, American Fork, Utah from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the American Fork North Stake Center at 975 North 60 East, American Fork, Utah. There will be a viewing beforehand from 9:45-10:45 a.m.