Sye Andrew Kingswood

Sye Andrew Kingswood 1965-2021 Sye Andrew Kingswood was born July 20, 1965, in Galt, Ontario into the Cayuga tribe of the Six Nations. Due to a difficult situation, Sye was taken by the Children’s Aid Society, then taken home by John and Alida Kingswood in 1966. On June 6, 1967, the courts finalized the adoption. Sye often spoke of being adopted twice: adopted into a Christian home where the Lord adopted him into Jesus Christ.

Growing up as the third of four brothers, Sye spent much of his childhood in the Cambridge countryside, with the quiet observation skills and love of nature that marked his Native Canadian birthright. His love for this part of his heritage was strong, and he amassed significant knowledge and books about Canada’s indigenous peoples. The other part of his beloved heritage came from his immigrant parents: Sye was fluent in Dutch, habitual with coffee and pastries, and even enjoyed salted licorice.

In his twenties, Sye was able to reconnect with his birth mother and family, maintaining contact through the rest of his life. He navigated the complexities of adoption well and maturely, thankful for God’s providence in his life and faithful with all of the relationships that he had.

After studying art at the University of Western Ontario, Sye took welding at Conestoga College, later returning to study drafting. For almost two decades, he worked for MacDonald Steel, where his coworkers remember him for steadiness and kindness.

Central to Sye’s life was his Christian faith. Thankful for salvation from sin and amazed by who God is, Sye was a member of Grace ARP Church in Woodstock, Ontario, where he worshipped weekly.

God unexpectedly called Sye home on February 15, 2021. He died at his brother’s home in his sleep, while recovering from a serious heart attack one week earlier.

Sye was loyal to his extended family, kind to his brothers, and honored his parents. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Sye grieves his sudden death. Christians who knew him look forward to the day that they will see him again. He is survived by his parents, John and Alida Kingswood (Woodstock); brothers Jeff (Woodstock), Matt (Russell), and Phil (Cambridge); fourteen nieces and nephews scattered across North America; and eighteen great nieces and nephews.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)