Frank Adrian Tolsma

Frank Adrian Tolsma, age 67, was called home to his Heavenly Father on Saturday, December 2, 2023, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.  Frank leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work and cherished memories that will forever be etched in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Frank was born April 5, 1956, in Bellflower, CA, to John & Jenny (Cnossen) Tolsma, the 5^th of 6 children.  The family moved to Mt Vernon, WA, in 1960, and then to Lynden, WA in 1975. He attended Mt Vernon Christian Grade School and graduated from Lynden Christian High School 1975.

Frank married the love of his life, Sheryl Stuit on December 9, 1977, in Lynden, WA. They began their family on the Willeys Lake Rd farm spending a little over two years there, before moving to their North Prairie Dairy on Depot Rd for the next 22 Years. The last 21 years were spent at their current residence on Pole Rd. Together they raised 6 lively children on the farm, teaching a strong work ethic and a love for farming and family.

Frank had a special place in his heart for dairy farming, he loved animals, cows in particular.  Most days on the farm, he would be working alongside one of his 4 sons, or 2 daughters.  He always had time for his kids, often the milking parlor would turn into a playground.  Swinging kids from the hot water pipes, or twirling us in buckets, he kept work fun and lighthearted.  Frank spent the last 20 years working with dairy cows, doing hoof trimming on the local dairies. He proudly passed on this trade to his son Greg, training him in family business these last few months.

Frank was a man of few words, but strong faith. He was a constant steady presence. His actions spoke his steadfast love. Despite his quiet nature, he loved to rile up the kids at bedtime.  He could get the whole household going, a wrestling, body squishing, giggling mass. He was also known to his kids and grandkids as “Big White Whale” at the pool or lake, always a presence, with his startling white farmers tan, each kid would wait their turn to go on an underwater adventure. “Papa” will be so missed by his grandkids, their steady rock, yet big kid at heart.  

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Sheryl Tolsma (Stuit), his dad, John Tolsma, Sr., mom, Jenny Tolsma DeBoer, son, Derek Tolsma, dad-in-law, Wilbur Stuit, and brother-in-law Sid Top.

Frank is survived by his children, son James (Allison) and their children Jaclyn, Makayla, and Taylor; daughter Rebecca (Paul) Joostens and their children Noah (Jess), and Ian; son Greg (Sara) and their children Shannon (Lukas), Nathalie, Landon, and Caitlyn; son Jeff and his children Kaylee, Brodie, Tyler, Milana, and Leyla; daughter-in-law Shelli (Jon) Fox and their children Austin and Kortnee (Tolsma), Abigail, Addison, Austin (little A), Ava, and Sadie; and daughter Melissa (Justin) VanBeek and their children Aleah, Levi, Kendra, and Jaycie. He will be greatly missed by his siblings Emma Top, Harold (Winnie), Henrietta (Jerry) Kaptein, Olga (Dick) Vander Kooy, John (Carolyn); and his mother-in-law Gertrude Stuit and sibling-in-law Lamont (Heidi) Stuit, Candace (Kent) Bouwman, and Chad (Erika) Stuit; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.