Harmen Miedema

Harmen Miedema, 76, of Accord, died Saturday July 7, 2012, at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, surrounded by his loving family. Born July 18, 1935, in Purmerland, The Netherlands, the son of the late Sietse Miedema and Maaike Miedema-Terpstra. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Mary Alice Lee-Miedema, in 2000.

Harmen learned the dairy business and milking by hand while growing up at his family farm in Purmerland. He emigrated to the U.S. in March 1957 and became a U.S. citizen in 1960. Here he learned to milk by machine and became a 35-year employee of JaWay Farms in Accord, NY. He was later a 10-year employee of Agway in New Paltz, NY.

He is survived by his four children: sons Harm Miedema of Kerhonkson, Harry Miedema of Accord, and Peter Miedema and his wife Mary Katherine Miedema of Westhampton Beach, NY, and daughter Suzanne Miedema and partner Wesley Haynes of High Falls. He was also the proud grandfather of three grandsons, Trevor and Tyler Miedema of Accord, and Siebren Miedema-Haynes of High Falls. He is also survived by his brothers, Piet Miedema and wife Janita Miedema of Kingston, and Siebren Miedema of Purmerland, The Netherlands, and three sisters, Suze van Wattingen-Miedema and husband Bob van Wattingen of t'Harde, The Netherlands, Tjitske Kimmijzer and Edith Witvliet and husband Daniel Witvliet of Amsterdam, and several nieces and nephews. A brother, Harry Miedema, died previously.

Harmen was a warm, kind, gregarious man whose interests included his family, farming, WWII history and a long chat with a good friend. He will be deeply missed.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, July 10th from 2-4 & 7-9pm at H.B. Humiston Funeral Home, 30 42nd St., Kerhonkson. A service will be Wednesday the 11th at 11am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Stone Ridge.