On June 27, 2018 Henk Iwan Dawson passed away at age 78. He was born April 3, 1940 in Paramaribo, Suriname to Helouise and Andrew Dawson. He was raised in Paramaribo and graduated from high school in 1957. At age 17, he traveled to the Netherlands where he attended college at Delft University. After graduating with a Ph.D. in Physics, he married his sweetheart Elke Oddens in 1963. In 1964, their first child was born, Helouise (Helo) Elke Dawson. Three months later, they traveled by boat to the US. Henk then began working in Chicago as a materials scientist.

In 1966 their 2nd child was born, Henk Andrew Dawson in Evanston, Illinois. In 1967, Henk was recruited to teach physics at University of Washington. In 1974, the family moved to Miami, Florida where Henk completed an accelerated Ph.D. M.D. program in 2 years. Soon after, the family moved back to Seattle, and Henk began his life’s work as a Rehabilitation Medicine Physician at Providence Hospital. Henk was well known for his expertise in EMG testing.

Henk retired in 1999. He was known to his colleagues as caring and intelligent. He loved to travel and dance with his wife, spend time with family, visit siblings in Holland, create and show paintings at Kirkland’s Parklane Gallery, and nurture a special relationship with each of his five grandchildren, and one great grand child.

He will be fondly remembered by his wife, Elke of Witten Ruhr, Germany, two children Helo (Dawson) Matzelle of Redmond, WA, and Henk Andrew Dawson of Bellevue, WA; five grandchildren Lauren, Jordan, Austin, Andrew, Derek; one great-grandchild, Madelyn and two brothers Rob Dawson and Ed Dawson and one sister Hil Oddens all living in Holland.

Henk had a heart for those discriminated against and believed we are stronger together. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to Community in Schools Organization in Seattle https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/1H1c1IeVidu5fYXShPoE0A