Obituary of John Tolsma

John Tolsma, 93, of Warminster, PA and long time resident of Roslyn, PA went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 9, 2017. He was the loving husband of 65 years to Lillian and father to Richard of Philadelphia, Karen (Sidney) of Sellersville, Susan (Steven) of Lake Oswego, OR, Alan (Lori) of Simpsonville, SC, and Linda (Brian) of Warrington. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, by his brothers Cornelius (Lenore) and Harold (Marianne) and his sister Alice. He was preceded in death by his father, John, mother Jessie, brother Daniel and sister Dorothy. John was born on July 12, 1924 in Arum, Friesland in the Netherlands. His family immigrated to the U.S. three years later, settling in Bergen County, New Jersey. In 1942, John enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Pacific aboard the USS Antietam during WWII. After the war, John attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts and began a career in graphic arts, working for several advertising agencies. He spent most of his career at Great Commission Publications in Melrose Park, PA where he served as the Art Director for 39 years. John was a gifted artist and photographer and a great man of faith who devoted time to his church singing tenor in the choir, teaching Sunday school, and serving as a treasurer, deacon, and elder. He and his family enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the states and after retirement he traveled with his wife throughout Europe and even Australia. He will be remembered as a faithful and loving husband and father who had a gentle, kind, tender heart, and a wonderful sense of humor. A celebration of John's life will be held at 7PM, on Friday, September 15 at Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Hatboro, with visitation of the family beginning at 6PM. Memorial donations in memory of John can be made to Trinity OPC at 151 W. County Line Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040.