Anton Eelman , 69, departed this life on Monday, January 3, 2011, at his home in North Plainfield, surrounded by his loving family. A graduate of Plainfield High School, Anton lived his entire life in the Plainfield/North Plainfield area. He was a heating and cooling technician for 45 years, beginning with T.R. Loizeax Fuel in Plainfield and most recently with Petro Oil in Clark, before retiring in 2004. Anton served in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was an avid reader and enjoyed studying history, science and theology. Anton was a member of North Branch Reformed Church in Bridgewater. He was also an accomplished photographer and enjoyed developing his own black and white prints in his darkroom. Anton thought of his life as a pilgrimage of discovery—intellectually, scientifically and spiritually. He was predeceased by his parents, both born in Holland, Aleida Sterenborg Eelman of Plainfield and Anthonie Eelman of Whiting. Anton is survived by his wife of 34 years, Anna Schulze Converse Eelman; a son, Luke Eelman and his wife, Heidi, of Raritan; step-daughter, Dawn Troutman of New Providence; step-son, Jess Converse and his wife Joanne, of Franklin Park; step-son, Bret Converse of North Plainfield; brother, Mark Eelman and his wife, Sally, of North Plainfield; sister, Johanna Hornick and her husband, Bernard, of South Plainfield; sister, Jurilei Lambert and her husband, Robert, of Spring Hill, Fla.; sister, Cora Eelman, of Spring Hill, Fla.; grandchildren, Zachary, Dylan, Skylar, Hunter and Jet; a niece, Aleida; nephews, Bernard, Richard, Timothy, and Robert "Bo"; as well as cousins and aunt. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 and from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 2011 at North Branch Reformed Church, 203 Route 28, Bridgewater. Burial will follow in North Branch Reformed Church Cemetery, North Branch. Memorial donations may be made in Anton's name to North Branch Reformed Church, 203 Route 28, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, Reasons to Believe Ministries, 731 E. Arrow Highway, Glendora, CA 91740, or Ravi Zacharia Ministries, 4725 Corners Circle, Suite 250, Norcross, GA 30092. To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Eelman family, please sign the online guestbook. Click "Sign Guestbook" below.