Jan Crull

Jan Crull, 93, a scion of an old Dutch Protestant family of the Netherlands' Patriciaat, died of heart complications on Thursday, April 5, in Ingalls Hospital, Harvey, IL. Mr. Crull was born in Holland in 1907 and educated at several overseas institutions in the areas of structure and design. His work ranged from, among other things, the creation of earthenware to furniture, lighting fixtures to the restoration of historic buildings or the redesigning of industrial structures, for which he received some recognition in the 1930's. During World War II, he was a group leader in the nonpoliticized Luchtbescherming, responsible for stabilizing war-ravaged buildings in historic Amsterdam. His immediate and extended family members were persecuted by the Nazis for political reasons and their involvement in the Dutch Underground. This devastating experience would in future years prompt him to move his family to North America so that, especially, his son would not be subjected to what he had seen and felt during the War. Almost all of Mr. Crull's years on this side of the Atlantic Ocean were spent living an unassuming life in Flossmoor, IL. He is survived by his loving wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in North America; a favorite niece and two nephews and their children in the Netherlands; two nieces in South Africa; and a nephew in Bali. Services and burial were private in the Flossmoor area.