1948
Eduard
2023
Eduard Van Muijen
November 10, 1948 — September 18, 2023
Eduard VanMuijen, a beloved son, husband, father, and Opa, passed away on September 18, 2023 at the age of 74. Born in Medan, Indonesia to proud parents Willy and Hendrika VanMuyen, he has an older brother, Ronald VanMuijen, and a half-brother, Dougie, in Holland. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and a zest for life that touched the hearts of all who knew him.
Eduard's life journey was a remarkable one. After the turbulence of World War II, the VanMuijen family made a daring decision to start anew, immigrating from Indonesia to Holland. Their voyage began on a cargo ship, but the biting cold of Dutch winters soon led them to seek warmer shores. They made their way to New York City in August 1959 when Ed was 10, where they embarked on an epic cross-country adventure, taking a Greyhound bus to California. During this journey, Ed's gift for storytelling emerged, often adding humor to his tales, such as his memorable remark that the land "went on forever." Upon settling in California, fate brought him next door to Joan, the love of his life.
In 1967, Eduard proudly graduated from Sierra High School, where he was a multi-talented student. His high school years were marked by his dedication to water polo, his prowess on the track and field, and his passion for playing music. Ed continued his educational journey, earning his associate degree from Rio Hondo Community College and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Southern Utah University. His commitment to education was unwavering, reflecting his belief in the power of learning and personal growth, and extending to his constant push for his kids, grandkids, and all those around him to continue their pursuit of higher learning.
From a young age, Ed had a deep passion for music. He picked up the guitar early on, joining his brother Ron and father in creating melodious rhythms. Ed's distinctive rhythm guitar style added a unique beat to his strumming, allowing him to seamlessly fit into any band, even in the absence of a bassist. His heart belonged to country music, and his love for it was boundless. Not only did he enjoy playing music himself, but he also shared his passion with his kids, especially his granddaughter, Jocelyn, teaching her to play the bass and instilling in her the art of stage presence. Christmas in the VanMuijen household held a cherished tradition: Ed created a rule that "if you don't sing, you don't get presents," which ensured that all the kids participated in the festive spirit. With his humor and creative spirit, he even crafted his own unforgettable version of "Feliz Navidad" where he playfully altered the lyrics to "What's In That Package."
Ed also had a deep love for fishing and a lifelong dream of owning a lakeside cabin where he could peacefully fish from the dock. Together with his brother and brothers-in-law, he started an annual tradition known as "fish-hunt" every Father's Day, bringing family and friends together for a week of angling adventures. He taught his granddaughter Audrey to fish with his lucky fishing pole, and now she never misses. While the prizes for the biggest and most fish often eluded him, Ed's collection of fish stories grew rich and entertaining.
Cars and engines were another one of Ed's passions. In his youth, he would rescue cars from the junkyard, meticulously restoring them and racing against his friends. He even "borrowed" his father's lawnmower to fashion a makeshift go-kart, showcasing his mechanical ingenuity. Ed's 22-year-old truck remained a testament to his meticulous care. He also took it upon himself to buy bicycles for his grandchildren and patiently helped them learn to ride. And let's not forget his unwavering enthusiasm for NASCAR, where he eagerly followed the twists and turns of his favorite races and drivers and could talk about it for hours to anyone willing to listen.
Professionally, Ed worked as a laser engineer for companies that flirted with success but never quite attained it. His career took him to far-flung corners of the world, including Japan and France, and even brought him close to infiltrating the Nestle headquarters in Switzerland—a mission perhaps driven by his love for dark chocolate. He finally retired from Alcon Laboratories in 2005. Ed's sense of humor found its way into his work environment, where colleagues and family alike knew about the "fry table tax"; if someone bought french fries, Ed was entitled to have one.
Ed and Joan settled in the serene embrace of Dammeron Valley, Utah, where they enjoyed their well-deserved retirement. Their yard is adorned with an array of statues of various animals, and Ed designed an engaging scavenger hunt for his kids and grandkids. He became the go-to tech support guru for family and friends, as well as the designated tax preparer. With a knack for finding ingenious loopholes and workarounds, he tackled challenges with a twinkle in his eye, often navigating the intricacies of tax matters in what he playfully referred to as "the gray zone" with remarkable finesse.
Ed had a wide range of interests, from his love of "Star Trek”, "Star Wars," and Westerns on TV to his passion for playing Pinochle with friends and family every week. He was known for his playful ribbing and endless jokes. Additionally, he spent countless hours exploring the virtual realms of World of Warcraft with Joan, Ron, Amie, and Jeff, even turning a profit in the game's auction house and enjoying virtual fishing.
Eduard VanMuijen's infectious smile and easy laughter will be sorely missed by his loving wife of 53 years, Joan, his three devoted daughters, Nikki, Amie, and Pam, his adoring grandchildren, Audrey, Jocelyn, Lydia, and Finnegan, as well as the many friends and family members whose lives he touched. Ed leaves behind a cherished legacy of joy, humor, and a deep love for his family and passions.
A service will be held on November 10, 2023, at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St George, UT 84770 at 2 PM (Mountain Time).
Dinner and Celebration of Life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the InterMountain Cancer Center of St. George:
IHC Cancer Center
Scan QR Code shown in photos OR Click the link below,
https://secure3.convio.net/ihchs/site/Donation2?idb=41290549&df_id=1501&mfc_pref=T&1501.donation=form1&idb=0
Eduard's life journey was a remarkable one. After the turbulence of World War II, the VanMuijen family made a daring decision to start anew, immigrating from Indonesia to Holland. Their voyage began on a cargo ship, but the biting cold of Dutch winters soon led them to seek warmer shores. They made their way to New York City in August 1959 when Ed was 10, where they embarked on an epic cross-country adventure, taking a Greyhound bus to California. During this journey, Ed's gift for storytelling emerged, often adding humor to his tales, such as his memorable remark that the land "went on forever." Upon settling in California, fate brought him next door to Joan, the love of his life.
In 1967, Eduard proudly graduated from Sierra High School, where he was a multi-talented student. His high school years were marked by his dedication to water polo, his prowess on the track and field, and his passion for playing music. Ed continued his educational journey, earning his associate degree from Rio Hondo Community College and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Southern Utah University. His commitment to education was unwavering, reflecting his belief in the power of learning and personal growth, and extending to his constant push for his kids, grandkids, and all those around him to continue their pursuit of higher learning.
From a young age, Ed had a deep passion for music. He picked up the guitar early on, joining his brother Ron and father in creating melodious rhythms. Ed's distinctive rhythm guitar style added a unique beat to his strumming, allowing him to seamlessly fit into any band, even in the absence of a bassist. His heart belonged to country music, and his love for it was boundless. Not only did he enjoy playing music himself, but he also shared his passion with his kids, especially his granddaughter, Jocelyn, teaching her to play the bass and instilling in her the art of stage presence. Christmas in the VanMuijen household held a cherished tradition: Ed created a rule that "if you don't sing, you don't get presents," which ensured that all the kids participated in the festive spirit. With his humor and creative spirit, he even crafted his own unforgettable version of "Feliz Navidad" where he playfully altered the lyrics to "What's In That Package."
Ed also had a deep love for fishing and a lifelong dream of owning a lakeside cabin where he could peacefully fish from the dock. Together with his brother and brothers-in-law, he started an annual tradition known as "fish-hunt" every Father's Day, bringing family and friends together for a week of angling adventures. He taught his granddaughter Audrey to fish with his lucky fishing pole, and now she never misses. While the prizes for the biggest and most fish often eluded him, Ed's collection of fish stories grew rich and entertaining.
Cars and engines were another one of Ed's passions. In his youth, he would rescue cars from the junkyard, meticulously restoring them and racing against his friends. He even "borrowed" his father's lawnmower to fashion a makeshift go-kart, showcasing his mechanical ingenuity. Ed's 22-year-old truck remained a testament to his meticulous care. He also took it upon himself to buy bicycles for his grandchildren and patiently helped them learn to ride. And let's not forget his unwavering enthusiasm for NASCAR, where he eagerly followed the twists and turns of his favorite races and drivers and could talk about it for hours to anyone willing to listen.
Professionally, Ed worked as a laser engineer for companies that flirted with success but never quite attained it. His career took him to far-flung corners of the world, including Japan and France, and even brought him close to infiltrating the Nestle headquarters in Switzerland—a mission perhaps driven by his love for dark chocolate. He finally retired from Alcon Laboratories in 2005. Ed's sense of humor found its way into his work environment, where colleagues and family alike knew about the "fry table tax"; if someone bought french fries, Ed was entitled to have one.
Ed and Joan settled in the serene embrace of Dammeron Valley, Utah, where they enjoyed their well-deserved retirement. Their yard is adorned with an array of statues of various animals, and Ed designed an engaging scavenger hunt for his kids and grandkids. He became the go-to tech support guru for family and friends, as well as the designated tax preparer. With a knack for finding ingenious loopholes and workarounds, he tackled challenges with a twinkle in his eye, often navigating the intricacies of tax matters in what he playfully referred to as "the gray zone" with remarkable finesse.
Ed had a wide range of interests, from his love of "Star Trek”, "Star Wars," and Westerns on TV to his passion for playing Pinochle with friends and family every week. He was known for his playful ribbing and endless jokes. Additionally, he spent countless hours exploring the virtual realms of World of Warcraft with Joan, Ron, Amie, and Jeff, even turning a profit in the game's auction house and enjoying virtual fishing.
Eduard VanMuijen's infectious smile and easy laughter will be sorely missed by his loving wife of 53 years, Joan, his three devoted daughters, Nikki, Amie, and Pam, his adoring grandchildren, Audrey, Jocelyn, Lydia, and Finnegan, as well as the many friends and family members whose lives he touched. Ed leaves behind a cherished legacy of joy, humor, and a deep love for his family and passions.
A service will be held on November 10, 2023, at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St George, UT 84770 at 2 PM (Mountain Time).
Dinner and Celebration of Life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the InterMountain Cancer Center of St. George:
IHC Cancer Center
Scan QR Code shown in photos OR Click the link below,
https://secure3.convio.net/ihchs/site/Donation2?idb=41290549&df_id=1501&mfc_pref=T&1501.donation=form1&idb=0
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eduard Van Muijen, please visit our flower store.
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