Henk Newenhouse

1926 - 2025

Henk Newenhouse

May 9, 1926 - October 21, 2025

Henk Newenhouse of Richland Center and formerly of rural Gotham, Wisconsin, died on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, of natural causes. Henk was 99 years old and was recently preceded in death by his wife, Linda Gentes. Visitation will be Saturday, December 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Phoenix Center in Richland Center. A luncheon and celebration of life will be held following visitation.

Henk wrote his own obituary:

"I was nothing special, of this I am sure. I was a common man with common thoughts and I've lived a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough." -from The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks

I was born on May 9, 1926, in Hoek, Holland, to Marinus and Johanna (DeKraay) Nieuwenhuize, and grew up in Kapelle, Holland. In 1945, after the Second World War, I enrolled in Amsterdam University and graduated with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology in 1952. I worked for the Dutch Federation for Mental Health in Amsterdam and for the World Federation for Mental Health in London from 1953 until 1955, when I was offered a 2-year contract with the United Nations in New York. I migrated to the USA in 1955. Later, I worked for Charles Pfizer in New York, and then for Leo Burnett in Chicago. Both jobs were in advertising. In 1961, I started a company in the Chicago area called Perennial Education, distributing educational films to schools, mostly about overall health and mental health. When video appeared on the market, I sold the business in 1984 and moved to rural Richland County, WI, to a farm I called the Merry Farm of Gotham. I became a certified court mediator, helping married couples who had minor children, mediate divorce. I mediated 1,032 divorcing couples and in 1996 started to officiate non-religious weddings, mostly performed at the Merry Farm of Gotham. I retired in 2013, at the age of 87, after officiating 699 weddings.

My first marriage to Christina Seger proudly produced three children, Yan, Astrid and Sonya, who shared their family lives with me in the most positive manner. My second marriage to Linda Gentes in 1987 brought me the happiest years of my life. After we sold the Merry Farm of Gotham, we happily lived in Richland Center. The community continuously invited me to take part in its varied activities, and I always gladly accepted the opportunities to serve. I was a pacifist, and I tried to adhere to my parents' motto: "Share your time, your talents and your resources."

I am survived by three children, Yan Newenhouse (Maryann), Astrid Newenhouse (Kurt Meyer), Sonya Newenhouse (Cecil Wright); five grandchildren, Eric Newenhouse (Lindsay Morgan), Carl Newenhouse, Isa Meyer, Addisu Newenhouse Wright and Lina Newenhouse Wright.

At a get-together for family and friends, share your thoughts and some friendly gossip. My ashes will be dispersed at random. *

*Oh, yes, I was Henk Newenhouse and I approved this message.