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BORN
1925
DIED
2017
Jan Vande Merwe Obituary
Jan (John) Vande Merwe, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully at his home Sept. 29, 2017. He was born in Dordrecht, Netherlands on May 21, 1925 to Jan VandeMerwe, Sr., and Cornelia Lucia Wetter. He developed a gift for music and at the young age of 12 performed on organs of great cathedrals in Holland. As a teenager he experienced the ravages of World War II . In 1947, he and two younger brothers were the first of their family to immigrate to America where he prepared the way for his parents and 6 other siblings to follow. Two weeks after his arrival in Salt Lake City, he met Gladys Joy Gold. He was dazzled by her beauty and zest for life. They were married April 4, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were parents to six children Becky Joy Jensen (Del), Jan (Martha), Judi Conner (Rick), Jewel Marchant (Gary), Tim (Linda), and Jed (Jill), 31 grandchildren, and 51 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Joy, Bill VandeMerwe (brother) and Bea VandeMerwe (Sister). John was well known for his beautiful organ music and shared this talent freely throughout his life. John built financial success through hard work and dedicated business savvy. Next to his family, his greatest pleasure came from travel. He loved planning and including others in cruising around the world. His deepest joy came in watching his children and their families interact sharing life's tender moments.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m. at the Val Verda Stake Center, 2651 S. 500 W., Bountiful. Visitation will be 9:30- 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jan Vande Merwe
2 Entries
Larry Foley
October 5, 2017
Met him while he was on his mission in South Africa. He was very helping to me with my work assignment in translation. It turned that my mother was well acquainted with the Vande Merwe family. Her memories about them made me feel that they were special.
Michael and Ann Lundquist
October 5, 2017
Thank you for blessing our lives with your beautiful light, spirit, and music. We will miss your wisdom , smile, and larger than life handshake. All our love til we meet again,
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