Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Gibson-Bode Funeral Home in Erie. Visitation will take place Friday, July 31, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Erie Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Erie Food Pantry or Erie Evangelical Free Church.
Paul was born on April 28, 1933, in Newton Township, rural Erie, Illinois, to Justus and Winnie (Heun) Huizenga. He attended one room schools through eighth grade and then Erie High School, graduating as a proud member of the class of 1951. In his senior year he started dating Ruth Ann Fiet.
Paul was drafted and served with the United States Army in Korea, 1953-1955. Upon his return, he and Ruth were married May 12, 1955, in Fulton, Illinois. Paul was self-employed for 53 years. He and Ruth started the plumbing business from their home in 1962; in 1969 they purchased a building in Erie, where they remained in business until 2015.
As a young man, Paul enjoyed baseball, bowling, family vacations, playing cards, and playing with his kids, teaching them baseball, mowing, and riding dirt bikes. Later Paul and Ruth enjoyed car trips all over the country together, especially Branson, Missouri.
His first venture into politics was being elected to the Newton Consolidated School Board. He was later elected to the Erie town board as a trustee, and was also elected for two terms as mayor of Erie. He and Ruth enjoyed attending Municipal League conventions in Chicago at that time.
Paul volunteered with the Erie Fire Department for 22 years. From 1976-2019 he was an active member in the Erie Rotary Club, and served as President of the local chapter. He especially enjoyed hosting other businessmen through the Rotary exchange program in his home from time to time. In 1976 -1977 Paul and Ruth hosted high school student Kinuyo Toyoda from Osaka, Japan in their home for 10 months.
He was a current member of the Erie American Legion. He served with the honor guard at many funerals of fellow servicemen. As Legion members, Paul and his friend Clark Mortensen made great efforts to restore a forgotten graveyard, Smack Cemetery, near Erie. They honored veterans as far back as the Civil War by placing flags there on Memorial Day. Paul also enjoyed being on the Honor Flight for veterans, in 2019.
Paul was a former member of the Newton Zion Reformed Church, and later, a member of Erie Evangelical Free Church where he served as an elder and board chairman.
Paul is survived by his wife Ruth Huizenga, currently residing at Allure of Prophetstown; daughter Cindy Moore of Coal Valley; son Craig (Denise) Huizenga of Erie; son Curt Huizenga of Erie; grandchildren Lindsey (Michael) Freburg, Jared (Sarah) Moore, and Stacey Umstead; eight great-grandchildren, Michael and Anna; Esther, Abigail and Lydia; Hayden, Peyton, and Deslan; also nieces and nephews.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marjorie Klooster, and brothers Howard and Harlan Huizenga, and son-in-law Mark Moore.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul, please visit the floral store. Online condolences can be shared at gibsonbodefh.com.
