Peter G. Hulswit and his identical twin brother, Willem, were born on Feb. 22, 1815, in Rotterdam, Holland, to Bartholomeus Hulswit and Neelje de Lange. He passed away on Dec. 27, 2007, at Providence Hospital in Everett. His childhood was a very happy one, filled with competitive swimming, soccer, speed cycling, sailboat racing and later, as an adult, with 98 amateur boxing bouts as a fly and bantamweight.
In 1935, he joined the Holland American lines as a masseur and sports instructor, traveling the world with many ports of call until 1939 when WWII broke out. It was then that his life took a different turn -- one that would change him forever.
Peter began his patriotic service to his country working in the Dutch underground movement, smuggling American and British downed pilots and Dutch Jews to Switzerland and Spain. In 1941, he was betrayed by a French double agent near Paris and spent that year in a French prison cell. In 1942, he was transported to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen-Oranhenburg near Berlin where he was liberated by the Russians in May of 1945. He continued on at the camp to help other sick prisoners until August of that year. For his heroic service, he was awarded the Dutch Cross of Honor for his resistance work by the Queen of the Netherlands.
He had continually prayed in the concentration camp that if he were allowed to survive, he would use the healing power of his hands to help others and so he did for the next 60 years. Peter's life story about his experiences in the Dutch resistance movement and his years in the concentration camps are being written by one of his dearest friends, Pastor Rick Karjalainin of Coupeville. He had met with Pete for the last six years and the family eagerly awaits the publication of the future book. Pete and his family were extremely grateful to Pastor Rick for all his efforts.
After the war, he brought Dutch prisoners of war back from the Far East to Holland on transport ships. From there he joined the British Royal Air Force in Berlin as an interpreter. His job was to bring former Nazi officers to justice. He also continued his humanitarian service with the Dutch Red Cross and UNICEF.
In 1947, he met his beloved Helen in Berlin and they were married in 1948. Later, their daughter Gloria was born. From there the family moved back to his hometown of Rotterdam. It was there in 1956 that once again his life would drastically change. Peter had loved his adventures traveling the world on the Holland American luxury liners and many times the ships had docked in Hoboken, N.J. He had always wanted to come to America and now he finally had the opportunity. During President Eisenhower's administration, patriots of the resistance movement were given first chance to immigrate to America. The family moved to Oak Harbor in January 1957 and once again, a new adventure began.
In 1957, he was employed as a milkman for Loerland Dairy, the present site of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club. He continued in the milk business, opening up the Dairy Valley store in 1963.
Reputation spread of the Dutchman's healing hands and in 1971, he was asked by then track coach Eric Lindberg to help with the high school's mile relay track team which were plagued with injuries. That team went on to win the state championship at Husky Stadium.
For the next 20 years, he volunteered his services along with his dear friend Dr. Warren Howe, team doctor, working with the football, wrestling, basketball and track teams. He became a legend at state competitions, not only working with Oak Harbor athletes, but also on the injuries of many others throughout the state. Coaches throughout the state would ask, "Where is Pete?" when their athletes were injured. His Wildcat athletes were very dear to him and many continued to keep in touch through the years.
He received much recognition and in the earlier part of the decade was inducted in the state Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions. Peter had legions of friends throughout his life and was much beloved by coaches, athletes, school personnel and the Oak Harbor community. As a tribute to Peter, the training room at Oak Harbor High School, which was built with him in mind, will be named in his honor.
Peter is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Gloria Carothers and her husband Jon of Oak Harbor, his grandson Kyle and his wife Briana of Gilbert, Ariz., his sister Greta and niece Laurette of the Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Willem.
Words cannot express what Peter meant to his family, to his wife Helen whom he loved for 60 years, to his son-in-law Jon whose quiet strength he admired for over 35 years, to his daughter Gloria who was loved unconditionally and was Daddy's little girl, to his grandson Kyle who he adored as a second child and who enjoyed Grandpa at his baseball games, from Little league through high school, college and the pros in Canada. We will all miss him dearly.
Peter loved his adopted country America, his land of the free and had fond memories os his native country in the Netherlands. He lived a life that was full, traveled many highways and did it splendidly his way.
In 1935, he joined the Holland American lines as a masseur and sports instructor, traveling the world with many ports of call until 1939 when WWII broke out. It was then that his life took a different turn -- one that would change him forever.
Peter began his patriotic service to his country working in the Dutch underground movement, smuggling American and British downed pilots and Dutch Jews to Switzerland and Spain. In 1941, he was betrayed by a French double agent near Paris and spent that year in a French prison cell. In 1942, he was transported to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen-Oranhenburg near Berlin where he was liberated by the Russians in May of 1945. He continued on at the camp to help other sick prisoners until August of that year. For his heroic service, he was awarded the Dutch Cross of Honor for his resistance work by the Queen of the Netherlands.
He had continually prayed in the concentration camp that if he were allowed to survive, he would use the healing power of his hands to help others and so he did for the next 60 years. Peter's life story about his experiences in the Dutch resistance movement and his years in the concentration camps are being written by one of his dearest friends, Pastor Rick Karjalainin of Coupeville. He had met with Pete for the last six years and the family eagerly awaits the publication of the future book. Pete and his family were extremely grateful to Pastor Rick for all his efforts.
After the war, he brought Dutch prisoners of war back from the Far East to Holland on transport ships. From there he joined the British Royal Air Force in Berlin as an interpreter. His job was to bring former Nazi officers to justice. He also continued his humanitarian service with the Dutch Red Cross and UNICEF.
In 1947, he met his beloved Helen in Berlin and they were married in 1948. Later, their daughter Gloria was born. From there the family moved back to his hometown of Rotterdam. It was there in 1956 that once again his life would drastically change. Peter had loved his adventures traveling the world on the Holland American luxury liners and many times the ships had docked in Hoboken, N.J. He had always wanted to come to America and now he finally had the opportunity. During President Eisenhower's administration, patriots of the resistance movement were given first chance to immigrate to America. The family moved to Oak Harbor in January 1957 and once again, a new adventure began.
In 1957, he was employed as a milkman for Loerland Dairy, the present site of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club. He continued in the milk business, opening up the Dairy Valley store in 1963.
Reputation spread of the Dutchman's healing hands and in 1971, he was asked by then track coach Eric Lindberg to help with the high school's mile relay track team which were plagued with injuries. That team went on to win the state championship at Husky Stadium.
For the next 20 years, he volunteered his services along with his dear friend Dr. Warren Howe, team doctor, working with the football, wrestling, basketball and track teams. He became a legend at state competitions, not only working with Oak Harbor athletes, but also on the injuries of many others throughout the state. Coaches throughout the state would ask, "Where is Pete?" when their athletes were injured. His Wildcat athletes were very dear to him and many continued to keep in touch through the years.
He received much recognition and in the earlier part of the decade was inducted in the state Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions. Peter had legions of friends throughout his life and was much beloved by coaches, athletes, school personnel and the Oak Harbor community. As a tribute to Peter, the training room at Oak Harbor High School, which was built with him in mind, will be named in his honor.
Peter is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Gloria Carothers and her husband Jon of Oak Harbor, his grandson Kyle and his wife Briana of Gilbert, Ariz., his sister Greta and niece Laurette of the Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Willem.
Words cannot express what Peter meant to his family, to his wife Helen whom he loved for 60 years, to his son-in-law Jon whose quiet strength he admired for over 35 years, to his daughter Gloria who was loved unconditionally and was Daddy's little girl, to his grandson Kyle who he adored as a second child and who enjoyed Grandpa at his baseball games, from Little league through high school, college and the pros in Canada. We will all miss him dearly.
Peter loved his adopted country America, his land of the free and had fond memories os his native country in the Netherlands. He lived a life that was full, traveled many highways and did it splendidly his way.
Peter G. Hulswit and his identical twin brother, Willem, were born on Feb. 22, 1815, in Rotterdam, Holland, to Bartholomeus Hulswit and Neelje de Lange. He passed away on Dec. 27, 2007, at Providence Hospital in Everett. His childhood was a very happy one, filled with competitive swimming, soccer, speed cycling, sailboat racing and later, as an adult, with 98 amateur boxing bouts as a fly and bantamweight.
In 1935, he joined the Holland American lines as a masseur and sports instructor, traveling the world with many ports of call until 1939 when WWII broke out. It was then that his life took a different turn -- one that would change him forever.
Peter began his patriotic service to his country working in the Dutch underground movement, smuggling American and British downed pilots and Dutch Jews to Switzerland and Spain. In 1941, he was betrayed by a French double agent near Paris and spent that year in a French prison cell. In 1942, he was transported to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen-Oranhenburg near Berlin where he was liberated by the Russians in May of 1945. He continued on at the camp to help other sick prisoners until August of that year. For his heroic service, he was awarded the Dutch Cross of Honor for his resistance work by the Queen of the Netherlands.
He had continually prayed in the concentration camp that if he were allowed to survive, he would use the healing power of his hands to help others and so he did for the next 60 years. Peter's life story about his experiences in the Dutch resistance movement and his years in the concentration camps are being written by one of his dearest friends, Pastor Rick Karjalainin of Coupeville. He had met with Pete for the last six years and the family eagerly awaits the publication of the future book. Pete and his family were extremely grateful to Pastor Rick for all his efforts.
After the war, he brought Dutch prisoners of war back from the Far East to Holland on transport ships. From there he joined the British Royal Air Force in Berlin as an interpreter. His job was to bring former Nazi officers to justice. He also continued his humanitarian service with the Dutch Red Cross and UNICEF.
In 1947, he met his beloved Helen in Berlin and they were married in 1948. Later, their daughter Gloria was born. From there the family moved back to his hometown of Rotterdam. It was there in 1956 that once again his life would drastically change. Peter had loved his adventures traveling the world on the Holland American luxury liners and many times the ships had docked in Hoboken, N.J. He had always wanted to come to America and now he finally had the opportunity. During President Eisenhower's administration, patriots of the resistance movement were given first chance to immigrate to America. The family moved to Oak Harbor in January 1957 and once again, a new adventure began.
In 1957, he was employed as a milkman for Loerland Dairy, the present site of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club. He continued in the milk business, opening up the Dairy Valley store in 1963.
Reputation spread of the Dutchman's healing hands and in 1971, he was asked by then track coach Eric Lindberg to help with the high school's mile relay track team which were plagued with injuries. That team went on to win the state championship at Husky Stadium.
For the next 20 years, he volunteered his services along with his dear friend Dr. Warren Howe, team doctor, working with the football, wrestling, basketball and track teams. He became a legend at state competitions, not only working with Oak Harbor athletes, but also on the injuries of many others throughout the state. Coaches throughout the state would ask, "Where is Pete?" when their athletes were injured. His Wildcat athletes were very dear to him and many continued to keep in touch through the years.
He received much recognition and in the earlier part of the decade was inducted in the state Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions. Peter had legions of friends throughout his life and was much beloved by coaches, athletes, school personnel and the Oak Harbor community. As a tribute to Peter, the training room at Oak Harbor High School, which was built with him in mind, will be named in his honor.
Peter is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Gloria Carothers and her husband Jon of Oak Harbor, his grandson Kyle and his wife Briana of Gilbert, Ariz., his sister Greta and niece Laurette of the Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Willem.
Words cannot express what Peter meant to his family, to his wife Helen whom he loved for 60 years, to his son-in-law Jon whose quiet strength he admired for over 35 years, to his daughter Gloria who was loved unconditionally and was Daddy's little girl, to his grandson Kyle who he adored as a second child and who enjoyed Grandpa at his baseball games, from Little league through high school, college and the pros in Canada. We will all miss him dearly.
Peter loved his adopted country America, his land of the free and had fond memories os his native country in the Netherlands. He lived a life that was full, traveled many highways and did it splendidly his way.
In 1935, he joined the Holland American lines as a masseur and sports instructor, traveling the world with many ports of call until 1939 when WWII broke out. It was then that his life took a different turn -- one that would change him forever.
Peter began his patriotic service to his country working in the Dutch underground movement, smuggling American and British downed pilots and Dutch Jews to Switzerland and Spain. In 1941, he was betrayed by a French double agent near Paris and spent that year in a French prison cell. In 1942, he was transported to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen-Oranhenburg near Berlin where he was liberated by the Russians in May of 1945. He continued on at the camp to help other sick prisoners until August of that year. For his heroic service, he was awarded the Dutch Cross of Honor for his resistance work by the Queen of the Netherlands.
He had continually prayed in the concentration camp that if he were allowed to survive, he would use the healing power of his hands to help others and so he did for the next 60 years. Peter's life story about his experiences in the Dutch resistance movement and his years in the concentration camps are being written by one of his dearest friends, Pastor Rick Karjalainin of Coupeville. He had met with Pete for the last six years and the family eagerly awaits the publication of the future book. Pete and his family were extremely grateful to Pastor Rick for all his efforts.
After the war, he brought Dutch prisoners of war back from the Far East to Holland on transport ships. From there he joined the British Royal Air Force in Berlin as an interpreter. His job was to bring former Nazi officers to justice. He also continued his humanitarian service with the Dutch Red Cross and UNICEF.
In 1947, he met his beloved Helen in Berlin and they were married in 1948. Later, their daughter Gloria was born. From there the family moved back to his hometown of Rotterdam. It was there in 1956 that once again his life would drastically change. Peter had loved his adventures traveling the world on the Holland American luxury liners and many times the ships had docked in Hoboken, N.J. He had always wanted to come to America and now he finally had the opportunity. During President Eisenhower's administration, patriots of the resistance movement were given first chance to immigrate to America. The family moved to Oak Harbor in January 1957 and once again, a new adventure began.
In 1957, he was employed as a milkman for Loerland Dairy, the present site of the Whidbey Golf and Country Club. He continued in the milk business, opening up the Dairy Valley store in 1963.
Reputation spread of the Dutchman's healing hands and in 1971, he was asked by then track coach Eric Lindberg to help with the high school's mile relay track team which were plagued with injuries. That team went on to win the state championship at Husky Stadium.
For the next 20 years, he volunteered his services along with his dear friend Dr. Warren Howe, team doctor, working with the football, wrestling, basketball and track teams. He became a legend at state competitions, not only working with Oak Harbor athletes, but also on the injuries of many others throughout the state. Coaches throughout the state would ask, "Where is Pete?" when their athletes were injured. His Wildcat athletes were very dear to him and many continued to keep in touch through the years.
He received much recognition and in the earlier part of the decade was inducted in the state Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions. Peter had legions of friends throughout his life and was much beloved by coaches, athletes, school personnel and the Oak Harbor community. As a tribute to Peter, the training room at Oak Harbor High School, which was built with him in mind, will be named in his honor.
Peter is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Gloria Carothers and her husband Jon of Oak Harbor, his grandson Kyle and his wife Briana of Gilbert, Ariz., his sister Greta and niece Laurette of the Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Willem.
Words cannot express what Peter meant to his family, to his wife Helen whom he loved for 60 years, to his son-in-law Jon whose quiet strength he admired for over 35 years, to his daughter Gloria who was loved unconditionally and was Daddy's little girl, to his grandson Kyle who he adored as a second child and who enjoyed Grandpa at his baseball games, from Little league through high school, college and the pros in Canada. We will all miss him dearly.
Peter loved his adopted country America, his land of the free and had fond memories os his native country in the Netherlands. He lived a life that was full, traveled many highways and did it splendidly his way.
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