Kent Meindert Moorlach

Drs. Kent Meindert Moorlach, CLU, passed away at age 91 on March 21, 2019. He resided in Centennial, Colorado at the time of his passing, after having relocated to Colorado from California with his wife in August, 2018, to live close to their daughter and her family. A Celebration of Life service will be held for him at Christ Community Church in Buena Park on Saturday, April 13, at 11am. All who knew him are welcome to attend.



Born Klaas Meindert Moorlach on October 27, 1927 in Uithuizermeeden, Netherlands, he was the second-born of six children, the oldest son of Johannes Moorlach and Geziena Cornelia Moorlach-Ausema.



Kent married Rita (Rieka) Dina Cornelia de Boer on August 27, 1953, and they had two sons before they immigrated to the United States of America in 1960. He felt led to leave his career within his family milling business, the Moorlach Meelfebriek (flour factory), to start over in a new country. Upon establishing his family's residence in Southern California, he immediately began working by selling new homes for a house contractor. He then became an insurance broker for Penn Mutual, and quickly became a top salesman when he reached out to the Dutch community in his area. He later earned the CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) certification. He stayed in the insurance business until he retired in 1996. In his last years, he enjoyed recycling as a hobby, and donated his proceeds to the church.



Kent and Rita were married 65 years. Together, they have four children, fourteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Their children are:
1) John (Johannes) Meindert Willem Moorlach of Costa Mesa, CA, married to Trina M. Moorlach-Lehmeier. Their three children are Sarah Moorlach-Robb, married to Joseph Robb, parents of Jordi, Jericho and Juliet Robb; Caleb Moorlach, married to Monika Moorlach-Teuffel, parents of Koa Moorlach; Daniel Moorlach, engaged to Katie Jacober.
2) Edward Harold Jan Moorlach of Fullerton, CA, married to Angel M. Moorlach-Asche. Their two children are Jeanette and Pierce Moorlach.
3) Kent Michael Moorlach of Millington, TN, married to Stephanie H. Moorlach-Asche. Their five children are Justus, Faith, Xara Joy, Christian and Valor Moorlach.
4) Annemarie LeFebre-Moorlach of Centennial, CO, married to Bradley T. LeFebre. Their four children are Mallory, Chad, Matthew and William LeFebre.



Kent is also survived by his sister Auty (Autje) Moorlach of Hoogeveen, NL, sister-in-law Marilyn Moorlach-Miller of Apple Valley, MN (widow of Mike Moorlach), and brother Wim (Willem) Moorlach & his wife Doortje (Theodora) Moorlach-Schuurman of Uithuizermeeden, NL. He was preceded in death by his older sister Hillie (Hilje) Koolen-Moorlach, brother-in-law Wim (Willem) Koolen, younger brother Mike (Meindert) Moorlach, and youngest sister Carla (Caroline) Moorlach.



Of his wife Rita's siblings, Kent is survived by his sisters-in law Gladys (Klaasje) DeBoer-Verboom (widow of Harold DeBoer) and Alida DeBoer-Albers (widow of Edward DeBoer). He was preceded in death by Jaap (Jacob) de Boer & his wife Gre (Grietje) DeBoer-Dwarshuis, John (Jan) DeBoer & his wife Tena DeBoer-Weringa, Edward (Izebrand) DeBoer, Dick (Dirk) de Boer & his wife Aliedje (Alide) de Boer-Dojes, Harold (Harco) DeBoer, and Annie Marie Wiersema-de Boer & her husband Post Wiersema.



It is hard to say good-bye to our dear friend, husband, brother, father, uncle, and Opa. He was quick to help others and was a lover of adventure -- as evidenced by his volunteerism, service trips, countless ski vacations, camping and backpacking excursions, and travels around the world. He enjoyed conversation with young and old, and even with those whom he had never met. It became one of his most endearing qualities.



Kent was 13 years old when the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940, and was 18 years old when his country was liberated. He followed world events closely, and throughout his life he revisited those years through history books and documentaries. His honeymoon even included a visit to the beaches of Normandy in France, to see where D-Day took place. He began his university studies in 1946 at the Dutch Economic University in Rotterdam, which later merged into Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He was drafted in 1948 into the Dutch National Reserve, where he excelled as a sharp shooter. His military training was in Assen, a city in northeastern Netherlands. That year, the Dutch government signed an accord with Indonesia, and subsequently his unit was one of the first to be spared serving overseas in Indonesia. He then returned to Rotterdam to continue with his studies, which culminated in his graduation with distinction in 1953, earning a Doctorandus (Drs.) degree in Economics.



During his university studies, he was a proud "Wodanzoon" (Son of Wodan). This was his fraternity within the Societas Studiosorum Roterodamensis, the student society named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (the 15th century theologian for whom his university – and city – was named.) He was an active member and leader, and his fraternity brothers would remain his closest friends throughout his life. He rarely missed a reunion, and was always excited to make a trip to the Netherlands for these special events. He was instrumental in helping construct a large building for his fraternity, named "Koinonia," which served as a large fellowship hall for their meetings and formal events. It was in this building where a small farewell party was held for him and his family before they departed for America.



In the United States, Kent worked hard to provide for the family he loved. When he had time off, his favorite destinations were the mountains and the beach. He especially loved to ski, ice skate and bicycle ride. In college, he and a friend took a biking vacation from Rotterdam to Paris and back. He continued riding his bike into his final days. He also continued skiing avidly into his late eighties. His love for the outdoors was contagious, and his children and grandchildren all share in his passion for adventures in nature. He was also a vocal political conservative, always ready to discuss the evils of Hitler's National Socialism ("Nazism"). This, too, shaped the lives of his children, who continue to carry his torch of sounding the alarm, lest history repeat itself.



Most importantly, Kent had a love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was committed to serving God, and served in a myriad of ways within Community Reformed Church (later Christ Community Church), Artesia Christian Home retirement community, and Communion Presbyterian Church. He welcomed death peacefully, knowing what great promises are laid up for all who put their faith in Christ.



In his last few years, Alzheimer's Disease started to cloud his thinking. However, it never conquered his spirit, and he maintained his eternal optimism. His entire family looks forward to a reunion with him on that day when we will all be together in God's heavenly and everlasting kingdom.



In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Kent's legacy with a
donation to Richland ARP Church: 8658 Rosemark Rd., Millington TN 38053 (
http://www.richlandarp.org/online-giving.html), and/or to Moorlach for Senate 2020: 9070 Irvine
Center Dr., Suite 150, Irvine CA 92618 (.), FPPC ID# 1392543