Jan Ten Broeke

1930 - 2019

Jan ten Broeke

Somerset - Jan ten Broeke completed his life at his home in the village of East Millstone in Somerset, on July 27, 2019. He was 89.

Jan was born on June 8, 1930, in the town of Marienberg, in the Overrijsel Province of the Netherlands. He earned a degree in chemistry from the University of Agriculture in Wageningen, and, in 1954, immigrated to the US and worked as a pharmaceutical chemist at Merck & Co., until he retired in 1991.

Jan was an artist who created surrealist paintings under the nom de brusse, "Ten," that have been exhibited internationally, and featured in books, museums, and private collections.

Jan advocated for historical and environmental preservation and was an appointee to the Somerset County Cultural Heritage Commission; co-founder of the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition, the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway, and the East Millstone Historical Society; and a long-standing member of the Meadows Foundation's Board of Directors.

Jan was an activist for human rights, equality, justice, and peace. His many interests included art and art history, anthropology and archeology, cosmology, geology, and metaphysics and philosophy.

Jan was predeceased by his parents Diena (Muis) and Wilhem ten Broeke, sisters Willie and Anky, and brothers Gerrit and Dirk. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Walter; daughters Diena and Yannie; grandchildren Elsie, Diena, and Alexandre; brother Dinard and sister Janny of the Netherlands; and many nieces and nephews.

Jan's life will be celebrated on August 3, from 1 to 3pm at Gleason's Funeral Home in Franklin Township.

In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to:

Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance http://www.raritanmillstone.org/Membership_Payment.html

Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition http://www.millstonevalley.org/join-us.html

Meadows Foundation http://www.themeadowsfoundation.org/donations/