Rick Boonstra was born Oct. 6, 1960 in Seattle. He died at his home in Seattle on April 6, 2005.

Rick was raised in Oak Harbor and received his diploma from Oak Harbor High School in 1980. He went on to study art at Shoreline College.

Rick faced many challenges throughout his all too short life, but he loved to cook and prepare food in deli settings. At various times he cooked at the Pioneer Cafe and the Chief Petty Officer’s Club. He worked at Safeway and at QFC in the Seattle area.

Rick was very artistic, he spent many hours creating cards and notes to people. He liked to share his work with friends and relatives alike. Rick was also a true lover of nature. He enjoyed the great outdoors and gardening. He also had a special place in his heart for older people. He would go out of his way to take older friends and neighbors to the store and do other errands with them.

Rick is survived by his parents, Ed and Willie Boonstra of Oak Harbor and his sister, Karin Nelson of Kent.

Memorial services celebrating the life of Rick Boonstra will be held at the First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor Thursday, April 14, at 2 p.m., which will be preceded by a graveside service at Maple Leaf Cemetery at 1 p.m. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.