Sidney Reitsma

Sidney Reitsma, age of 83, passed away peacefully at home with his caretaker and best friend at his bedside in January 2022 in Artesia, California.

Sidney was born in Drachten, Friesland, Netherlands to Gaatse and Jitske Reitsma in 1938. He was the youngest of 5 children.  He had 1 sister and 3 brothers. He grew up on a farm in Drachten, Friesland, in the Netherlands. As a young boy he worked the farm with his dad and his brothers.  As a young man he served in the service for 2 years.  His oldest brother, Louie, left Holland and came to the US and settled in California to start a new life at the age of 24.  A few years later another brother Pete came to the US.  Sid followed in his brothers’ footsteps and came to the US around 1962 or so to live as well. Pete and Sid worked at the dairy everyday milking cows with our dad, Louie in his early years. As the years went by Sid moved on from milking cows to driving an 18- wheeler cross country.  It was long hours on the road with a demanding schedule that caused a lot of stress to arrive at the final destinations on time.  He was competitive on how many truckloads runs he could do in a specific timeframe.  That meant more money in his pocket!  One of his early hobbies years ago was throwing darts with the Pacific Darts Association.

In 1979 Sid began his career in Real Estate.  He found his passion and enjoyed selling houses for 41 years.  Over the last 21 years, at Century 21 Astro, Lou and his team mates were his extended family.  Sid’s entire career was with the Century 21 organization split between C-21 Inland Pacific and C-21 Astro developing lifelong friendships along the way.

Sidney never married.  He is survived by his sister-in-law, Hinke Reitsma, and 16 nieces and nephews as well as an abundance of great nieces and nephews residing in Holland and in the US.

If you wish, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice on his behalf.

Sid leaves us rich in memories.

Rest in peace Sid with all of our loved ones that have passed on.