Dirk Bote Gouwens, 91 of The Villages of Bonneybrook, passed away on October 18, 2020. Dirk was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on November 8, 1928 and later resided in Zevenhuisen, The Netherlands. He worked for his father’s taxi business as well as a machinist. He also was a competitive goal keeper for Feyenoord football/soccer club in Rotterdam.
Dirk immigrated to the United Stated with his family in 1952. He quickly became a US citizen and enlisted in the Air Force. Dirk served his country for 4 years, stationed in Korea for a year during the Korean War. Upon his return, he was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Columbia, South Carolina, where he met the love of his life, Lilli. They wed on August 25, 1956 and were happily married until her passing in August 2019.
Dirk and Lilli moved to Flushing, NY and started a family. Dirk worked for Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Norwalk, CT where he was in charge of HVAC operations for all Connecticut facilities. Dirk and Lilli moved to New Milford, CT. Dirk became an avid stock car racing fan, and started to build winning modified stock cars and engines for friends at the Danbury Race Arena. After the closing of the track, he continued to build cars and engines for his son. Dirk and his son Greg competed for numerous years at the Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International Speedway. Upon retirement, Dirk and Lilli moved to Port Orange, FL then ultimately moved to The Villages in 2003.
Dirk B. is survived by his two sons, Dirk Gouwens and wife Elizabeth of Scarborough, ME, and Gregory Gouwens and wife Jody of Summerfield, FL; his two grandchildren Christine Gouwens of Jersey City, NJ and Nicholas Gouwens of Lake Placid, NY.
A memorial service will be planned in the future.
