William Van Hoek, 83, formerly of Tolland, CT, died Tuesday, January 7, 2014, following a lengthy illness in Jacksonville, FL. He was born October 19, 1930, in Breda, Netherlands to Gerardus and Petronella Van Hoek. At the age of twenty-one, William immigrated to Canada, where he earned both an Honors BA and an honors MA at the University of Toronto, before moving to the US for his doctoral work at Yale University in Connecticut. As a multi-lingual educator/researcher, he taught French and German language and literature at the University of Connecticut/Hartford before devoting full-time to a variety of research projects, both educational and non-educational. A creative problem-solver, he maintained a special focus on language learning methodologies. William was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and a faithful attendee at the weekly men's coffee hour at his condominium complex. His interests were many and eclectic, but he especially enjoyed sailing and daily walks. William was pre-deceased by his parents, four sisters and two brothers. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Sharon Buckley-Van Hoek; sister- and brother-in-law Willa and Edward Wolcott of Gainesville, and their children, Kedron Wolcott (Jenia) of Pennsylvania and Charnley DeMeritt (Brian) of South Carolina. In the Netherlands he leaves two sisters (Ann Both and Gerda van Euen) and sister-in-law (Ann van Hoek), as well as many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Jacksonville, FL, immediately followed by a reception at the clubhouse in the condominium complex. Interment will be at a later date in the Memorial Garden of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of William Van Hoek to either The Foundation for Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257; or Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1 1665 Ft. Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225. Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd. Jacksonville, FL. 32211 assisting the family.
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3 Entries
So sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.
Marcia Weil Borowski
March 27, 2014
Sorry to hear of your loss our thoughts are with you
Denise Morrow
And Samantha Morrow and Mary Morrow
Denise Morrow
January 17, 2014
Dear Sharon,
Please accept my sincerest condolences.
Pat Lerch
Pat Lerch
January 14, 2014
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