Nicholas "Nick" John Warmerdam
May 22, 1940 to June 15, 2026
A lifelong farmer and resident of Hanford, California, devoted to his family, his faith, and the land his family has worked for generations.
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Recent remembrances
Dad was born in Hanford His parents, John and Gezien, immigrated from the Netherlands in the early 1900’s They shaped his Dutch “doe normaal” cultural identity - act normal, be humble, avoid excess He was asleep by 9 and up by 5 every day He worked on his family’s farm on 16th avenue his entire life, with short stints at Fresno State and the Coast Guard Reserves He loved track and field - won many medals for pole vaulting in school, and was coached by Cornelius “Dutch” Warmerdam at Fresno state He took us to run around the track at Lemoore High School when we were toddlers His favorite flavor of Superior Ice Cream was vanilla Without fail, he ordered the ham and cheese omelette at Peden’s every Sunday breakfast after church at St Brigid’s He went to church every Sunday, always sitting on the right side Every New Year’s Eve, he made oliebollen - traditional Dutch fried dough dusted with powdered sugar He rarely spent time indoors Work was outside (turning water on and off, dragging a disc with a tractor through the orchard) Leisure was outside (skiing, swimming in the ocean, riding roller coasters at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk) He liked to take pictures and videos of two things: family gatherings and the farm His home movies, and later, his phone camera roll, was full of pictures with kids, then grandkids, blossoming trees, and harvesters shaking walnuts from trees Anyone he ever talked about was almost always described as a "cousin" or "neighbor" He was earnest most of the time, and playful the rest. Never condescending or sarcastic If you worked hard to support your family, you instantly earned his respect, no matter where you were from He was grateful to the many people who worked hard alongside him in the packing shed and in the fields He was deeply in love with his wife, and together they built a beautiful life and family, which was not easy to do with the challenges of farming He did not perform miracles, but he was a miracle worker - literally working with the miracle of nature - the sun, soil, rain - harnessing it all with Dutch farmer ingenuity, a supernatural work-ethic, and the community he fostered, all working hard together to provide for their families He will be missed
Dave, Dad · June 25, 2026
I would like to express my deepest condolences for your loss. Mr. Warmerdam was a resident who truly touched my heart. He was a kind and gentle soul whose warmth, kindness, and respectful nature left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a true gentleman, always thoughtful and appreciative, and it was an honor to care for him. His presence brought comfort and joy to those around him, and he will be deeply missed. I will always remember his kind heart. During this difficult time, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort in the beautiful memories you shared and strength in the love that surrounds you.
Noemi Rodriguez, His RT in Brighton post acute · June 22, 2026