Allen Frederick Bierlink

Allen Frederick Bierlink passed away peacefully on July 1st, 2024 at the age of 88 in South Carolina after a recent rapid decline in health and a 10 year battle with cancer. Al was born on June 3, 1936 to Frederick and Alice Bierlink in Lynden, Washington. The family moved to Sunnyside when Al was 8 years old, and he grew up there with his four sisters and one brother. The family was active in the local Christian Reformed Church and community. Al’s father Fred was a builder and Al learned from an early age the ins and outs of construction.

When Al was 18 he moved to Seattle to work for Boeing. After a few years he started his career in construction, which would become a lifelong passion. He attended 1st Christian Reformed Church of Seattle where he would attend for most of his life, serving as Deacon and on the building committee. It was there he met his first wife, Judy Bol, and they went on to raise a family of 5 children. The children attended Watson Groen Christian School (now Shoreline Christian School), and Al was an active member of the community, serving on the school board and even building the gymnasium.

Al took pride in his construction company and valued quality craftsmanship. He mentored many young builders early in their careers and was always willing to lend his hammer to help people in his community. When not working he loved to take his boat out on Lake Washington, go downhill skiing with his kids and grandkids, or play a round of golf.

In 2003 Al married his wife Christy Logan and they spent 21 fabulous years together. Always looking for a new building project, Al built their home in Prosser and then Sequim, and finally oversaw the construction of their home in Bluffton, SC. Al and Christy loved boating, skiing and were active golfers in each town they lived in.

Al is preceded in death by his mother and father, Alice and Frederick Bierlink, granddaughter Julieann Rispens, son-in-law Ken Hoekzema, step-daughter Cynthia Lambiel, and brothers-in-law Jan Don and Albert Newhouse. He is survived by his loving wife Christy; children Donna Willems, Carla Hoekzema, Jeff (Phyllis) Bierlink, Betsy (Tom) Rispens, Anna Bierlink, and step-daughter Marci (Louis) Szakal; his siblings Gerry Don, Donna Kendall, Alice (Frank) Westgate, Gladys (Dave) DeRidder, and Ken (M’liss) Bierlink, and many nieces and nephews; his grandchildren Mark Willems, Nathan (Angie) Willems, Aaron (Kara) Willems, Andrew Willems, Kendra Hoekzema (Eric Buist), Taylor Hoekzema, Heather (Josh) Youravish, Megan (Nicholas) Ward, Jennifer (Casey) Hern, Jonathan Rispens, Joshua Rispens, Jillian Rispens, Devan McGilvray, Michael McGilvray, and Jayden Olheiser; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 a.m. at Shoreline Christian Reformed Church.

14555 25th Ave NE

Shoreline, WA 98155