John R. Pilon passed away peacefully in his home on March 15, 2004. He was 95.

John was born July 12, 1908, to John and Minnie (Boerhave) Pilon. He lived all his life in Lynden on Abbott Road. He had many family members on Whidbey Island and regularly visited them. He married an Oak Harbor girl he had met on one of his visits. In 1928, he met Dorothy Meidema while ice skating on Hastie Lake. Her family had immigrated to Whidbey Island from Holland.

A memorial service for Mr. Pilon was held March 19 at First Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Paul Hansen officiating. Burial preceded in Monumenta Cemetery with Rev. Berry Blankers officiating.

John was a farmer and had an inborn love for the land. At a young age he sought ways to improve farming practices along with making the cross-over from farming with mules and horses to motorized tractors. Each morning he was reminded of God’s marvelous creation as he looked out his kitchen windows surrounded by the view of his farmland trimmed by the beautiful mountain peaks.

He was a lifetime member of First Christian Reformed Church in Lynden and the last surviving charter member. He had a great love for his church, its music and served on the church council for many years. He also was a member of the Skookum-Chuck Water Association and served as president for many years.

John knew the value of contentment and the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastics were a great influence and model that guided his life. He was strong in his faith and grounded in his belief in God. His concentration was on family, church and community. Through it all, he was always his own person and not easily swayed. He had a listening ear and a genuine concern for others. It was evident in his tireless correspondence through cards and letters for all occasions to family and others in his church and community.

John enjoyed traveling, politics and telling stories about people, places and unrecorded history. He had a marvelous memory and truly enjoyed people from every walk of life.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, brother Jake and son-in-law Ted Vander Veen. He is survived by daughters Alice Kooy and husband Albert, Linda Egli and husband Walter all of Alberta, British Columbia, Canada, Minnie Buys and husband Jim of Quincy, Joanne VanderVeen and husband Nick of Lynden, Pat Bosman and husband Del of Bellingham and Sharon McDaniel and husband Pat of Pasco, sister Hilda Dekubber of Ferndale, 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Whatcom Co. Hospice 800 East Chestnut, Suite 1-C, Bellingham WA 98225-5241, First Christian Reformed Church building fund 1010 W. Front St. Lynden, WA. 98264 or Christian Health Care Center 855 Aaron Dr. Lynden, WA. 98264.