Obituaries
Jan van Delft
January 30, 1929 - February 28, 2020
-
VISITATION
March 6, 2020 | 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. - Yurs Funeral Home St. Charles
- Funeral
- March 6, 2020 | Memorial Celebration 4:00 P.M.
- Yurs Funeral Home St. Charles
-
Burial Location
Private
|
On Friday, February 28, 2020, Jan van Delft, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away at age 91.
Jan was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on January 30, 1929 to Jan and Reina van Delft. He was part of the resistance in occupied Holland during WWII and became a military police officer in the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee after the war. In 1951 he embarked on a long, successful airline career by joining Pan American, and shortly thereafter KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Jan’s career took him and his family all over the world while living in Canada and the United States. In 1990 the Queen of the Netherlands bestowed upon him a Knighthood into the Order of Oranje-Nassau for special merits to society. Making the world a better place never deterred him from being a devoted father, husband and grandfather, as well as a tremendous football and hockey fan.
Jan was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 57 years, Henderika. He is survived by his three children, John (Susan) van Delft of Flower Mound, Texas; Christina (John) Wierz of Kiel, Wisconsin; Reina (John) van Delft-Pickering of Northville, Michigan. He was a loving (Opa) to his six grandchildren, Jonathan, Michael (Mary), Stephen (Morgan), Emily (Robert), Hannah, Ian; and great grandfather to Landon, Finnegan, Kaiden and soon to be born baby girl Atchison.
A sharing of memories and a memorial celebration of his life will be from 3 to 5:00 P.M. Friday March 6, 2020 at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St. (corner of Rt. 25 & Rt. 64), St. Charles, IL 60174
For further information please call Yurs Funeral Home St. Charles. 630-584-0060 or www.yursfuneralhomes.com
Share
Email
Condolences
Barbara Hartnack from Chicago, IL
"Jan was very good to me at KLM supporting my efforts to finish my college education. He was a great mentor - smart, experienced and kind!"
Deetje van Opstal-Vandersluis from Eindhoven, the Netherlands., IL
"Condolences to the Van Delft family. Many good memories of Riekje and Jan, after joining KLM in Chicago. Sorry I cannot be with you for the Memorial Celebration."
Guill. van Lijf from Maastricht, HI
"Having known Jan and Riekje added much to my professional and personal life and I was proud when he became a Honorary Member of the Visitors and Convention Bureau VCB Maastricht in the Netherlands. May he rest in Peace."
Ellen Pickering Sullivan from South Elgin, IL
"My deapest sympathies go out to all of his loved ones"
hans van doorne from Cherry Grove , SC
"Jan had a good,long marriage, raised nice kids and had a successful carrier and was a good friend to me and many others. I am glad I had the experience to know him! Our sincere condolences to all of you!"
Debbie Mobley from China, TX
"Chris and John please know that we are sending prayers and love to you both. Heavenly Father my prayer is that Chris and her family will have their hearts filled with Your love and sweet memories of her dad as You wrap Your loving arms around them. In Your name. Amen"