03/25/2026
In Loving Memory - Dick Zylstra, the founder of West Covina Wholesale Nursery and a man who turned his passion for nature into a lifelong legacy, passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2026 at the age of 99.
Dick lived a life marked by adventure, resilience and a deep love for his family.
Born on June 22, 1926 in Hoogeveen, The Netherlands, to Catharinus and Dien Zijlstra, Dick’s adventurous spirit was sparked early.
At just three years old, his family moved to Indonesia. His childhood there was interrupted by the hardships of World War II, during which he was interned for three years.
Following the war, Dick returned to Holland in 1946 to pursue his education at the Agricultural University in Wageningen, earning his master’s degree in agronomy. While there, Dick spent two years as a rower on the university’s competitive eight-man shell.
While he initially intended to return to Indonesia, shifting political tides led him toward a new horizon in the United States.
In 1954, Dick married the love of his life Ann, whom he had met during their university days. Together, they emigrated to the U.S., briefly settling in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Seeking a warmer climate, they moved to Southern California. There, Dick honed his skills at Monrovia Nursery before he and Ann took the courageous step of starting their own business, which began with making cuttings at the kitchen table every evening.
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