William Edward Kuipers, Jr

Wellington FL / Sapphire - William Edward Kuipers, Jr., of Wellington, Florida, passed away at his summer home in Sapphire, North Carolina on Saturday, August 1, 2009. Bill was 78 years old.

A long time resident of Ridgewood, New Jersey, he graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Business Administration and Finance in 1952. He entered the U. S. Army upon graduation and after serving for two years in the Signal Corps, he was recruited by the IBM Corporation. After a distinguished career with IBM, he joined the family business, Haband Company, in 1964 as a principal and director.

In 1976, he moved the family to the last working horse farm in residential Ridgewood, New Jersey, where they bred thoroughbred horses. The small but picturesque farm was a labor of love and source of great fulfillment.

He retired from Haband in 1986 and moved to Wellington, Florida.

Bill was a man known for his benevolence and many good deeds. He was on The Vestry of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Ridgewood for many years and served as Warden and Lay reader. He also served as Scout Master for Troop 7 in Ridgewood, where he had the privilege of helping both of his sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He was on the board of the YWCA in Ridgewood. He supported numerous worthy charitable organizations in New Jersey and Florida including the Valley Hospital Foundation.

An avid golfer, he was a former member of Arcola Country Club in Paramus, NJ, and Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country in Wellington, FL. He and his wife, Amanda, recently joined the Wanderers Club in Wellington, FL and The Country Club of SapphireValley in Sapphire, North Carolina. He was a member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington, FL.

He is survived by his loving wife, Amanda Holloway Kuipers, and his children and their families: William & Dawn Kuipers III of Haskell, NJ; John & Cyd Kuipers of Jupiter, FL, and Marie & Ron Shepard of Beulah, MI. He was very proud of his granddaughters, Allison, Jennifer and Valerie Kuipers of Jupiter, FL.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or Fishes and Loaves,c/o Macon Bank, Hwy. 64 East, Cashiers, NC 28717.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.