Pouwel Sier Vuyk, our extraordinary Husband, Father, Grandpa, Brother, Teacher, and Friend passed from this life the morning of April 13th, 2021 at the age of 86. He was born September 13th 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Sier and Henderkien Vuyk. He grew up in Salt Lake City with his three brothers Tom, Marty, and Bill.
He graduated from West High School and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Belgium/Netherlands mission, the homeland of his parents. He married his wife Betsey on September 20th, 1963 in the Salt Lake Temple; they just celebrated 57 years of marriage. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in English. He taught speech and drama at Hillcrest High School for 32 years and directed thousands of students in over 150 plays over the course of those years. He truly loved his job, teaching and mentoring these students. He also taught night school for years and helped hundreds of students earn their GED. In addition to teaching school, he owned and operated Vuyk Landscaping where he showcased his talent for gardening and love for flowers and continued this well into his eighties. He loved to travel with his wife and family to San Diego, New York City, and Hawaii. He loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and showed that by the way he treated his fellow man, always with kindness and respect. He was a completely devoted and loving companion to his wife Betsey for 57 years, an incredible father to his 5 children, and a fun and loving Grandpa to his 8 Grandchildren who will all miss him immensely, especially scouring the beaches of San Diego with him in search of sea shells.
He is survived by his loving wife Betsey, his son Stephen, and his three daughters, Melissa (Brad)Jensen, Bonnie Vuyk, Nancy (Scott) Stoddart; Grandchildren, Kirsten and Kaitlyn Vuyk, Jake, Evie, and Caleb Jensen, Kelsey Kueser, Blakeley Hortin, and Erika Stoddart; and 6 great grandchildren with two on the way. He is also survived by his Brother Marty Vuyk.
Preceded in death by his daughter Kristy, his brothers Tom and Bill, and his beloved parents Sier and Henny with whom he is having a joyful reunion.
A viewing will be held Monday, April 19, 2021 from 9:30 – 11:30 AM at the Butler Hills Ward, 2695 East 7000 South, Cottonwood Heights, UT, 84121 with the funeral following at 12:00 PM. Interment to follow funeral services at the Memorial Mountain View Cemetery, 3115 East Bengal Boulevard, Cottonwood Heights, UT, 84121.
Facial coverings are required per the Butler Hills Ward. Social distancing will be enforced. For those unable to attend, the funeral services will be livestreamed. Instructions to join are listed below.
Joining by computer
a. Go to zoom.us in any internet browser
b. Click “join meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8012878233
d. A box will open saying “https://zoom.us wants to open this application”. Click “open zoom”
e. Click “Join with Computer Audio”
f. Click “Mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services
Joining by phone or iPad
a. Download the Zoom app
b. Open the app and select “join a meeting”
c. Enter the meeting id – 8012878233
d. Select “join without video”
e. Select “Call using internet audio”
f. Select “mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services.
Services
Services Handled By
Life Story Info
Post Date
Personal Info
Age
Robert John Scarcelli
I love my Uncle! I loved attending the funeral and listening to the beautiful words from his family. What a loving, good kind man! The life he lived is a great example to us all. I will miss him!
I was a student of Mr. Vuyk (1973-1976) and was very involved in music and drama, and so loved being in many of his drama classes over the years. What an amazing, upbeat and positive attitude he always had...and such a fun and hilarious sense of humor! He was always so kind to all of us! Instead of getting after us like a parent would when we were horsing around, he just razzed us and made a humorous comment that was never offensive, but you then knew it was time to settle down. He found delight in our successes and competitions...and he even laughed at some of my jokes! :----). Don't ever remember a day when I didn't look forward to going to drama class! He was an amazing bright spot in my life during my high school years! I look forward to reuniting and hanging out with him again in the spirit world one day!
Pouwel is a wonderful father and example of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will be missed, I have met many of his students and they all speak highly of his work as a teacher, director, and mentor.
He will be missed but I am grateful that he has joined, his mother and father, Tom, Bill, and his daughter Kristy.