Jan van Asselt

JAN VAN ASSELT Jan van Asselt, 92, peacefully departed this life on 24 July 2025 surrounded by family at The Cedars in McPherson, KS. The son of Peter and Gertruida (Hendriks) van Asselt, Jan was born on 4 September 1932 in Linde, the Netherlands. Growing up in the de Veluwes area of Holland, Jan delivered bread for the van Asselt family bakery. He attended elementary school in nearby Vorden. At age 4 Jan learned to ride a bicycle (reportedly while wearing wooden shoes) and continued his love of biking well into his late 80s. From the ages of 8 to 13 his schooling was often interrupted due to the German occupation of his homeland. He completed his secondary education in Zutphen, and in 1950 enrolled in a teachers college. In 1952, while still a student, Jan participated in an international work camp in Kassel, Germany. It was there he met McPherson College student, Peggy Sargent. Following a summer of working together at the camp, the couple went back to their homes but continued their romance by mail. Jan taught for two months after completing his final year of college, and then was drafted into the Dutch Royal Army where he served 21 months. Jan and Peggy were married on 5 July 1955, in Kassel, Germany. The newlyweds came to McPherson, and Jan enrolled at McPherson College in the fall of that year. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biology in 1956. Jan received his Masters in German in 1958 from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and his Doctorate in Germanic Linguistics from the University of California in Berkeley in 1965. During their California years, Jan and Peggy became the parents of three children: Allan, 1958; Linda, 1961; and David, 1963. Another important date for Jan was on 16 December 1960, when in Oakland, CA, he became a citizen of the United States. After receiving his terminal degree, Jan accepted a position in the Department of Modern Languages at McPherson College where he would teach German, English, and Linguistics, a career that would last for 34 years. Soon after returning to McPherson, the van Asselts welcomed their fourth child, Steven, in 1965. Jan also taught German to elementary students, as well as to McPherson and Buhler High School students. In addition to Jan's teaching and busy family life, he became a Boy Scout leader of Troop 130 from 1974 to 1982. They hosted many exchange students through the years. He also coordinated and led many tours of McPherson College and high school students to several European countries (always ending up in the Netherlands). He was a 60-year member of the McPherson Rotary Club and headed their Group Study Exchange program for several years, a member of the McPherson Church of the Brethren, volunteered with StepMC, helped with Brethren Disaster Ministries, was a founding member of the Opera House Preservation Company, and a lifetime member of the McPherson Opera House. The restoration of the Opera House was very important to Jan. From 1986 until the grand reopening in 2010 Jan had worked on every phase of the project until its completion. In April of 1988 Jan's wife, Peggy, died suddenly. They had shared 33 years together. Jan became acquainted with fellow Opera House Board member, Meg Littrel, in 1990. They were married 16 March the following year. During Jan's sabbatical year 1994-95 Jan became director of the Brethren Colleges Abroad program for the second time in Marburg, Germany. Because of the close proximity to the Netherlands, Jan enjoyed reconnecting with his Dutch family during that year. Jan retired from McPherson Çollege in 1999. He was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus of German and Linguistics by the college. Following his retirement, Jan and Meg enjoyed the home they built in 1997 where they hosted family and friends, and traveled widely in both the US and Europe. Jan was an avid lifetime learner with eclectic interests and intellect. He touched many lives, and had a tremendous impact on his students and others through the years. In the summer of 2015, Jan, then 83, made his last visit to his beloved Netherlands. Surviving Jan are his wife, Meg, of 34 years; his children, Allan (Deb) van Asselt of McPherson, KS; Linda (Phil) van Asselt King of Gallup, NM; David (Maura O'Neil) van Asselt of Leawood, KS; Steven (Kathryn) van Asselt, of Lake Oswego, OR; brothers, Johan (Hannie) van Asselt and Chris van Asselt; sister-in-law, Hennie van Asselt, of the Netherlands; sisters-in-law, Barbara Sargent Johnson, of Manchester, NH, and Linda (Charles) Butterfield, of McPherson, KS; stepchildren, Roy Littrel, Lisa (Larry) Johnson, and Dan (Tammi) Littrel, of Chadrun, NE; grandchildren: Kerrick (Anna) van Asselt, of Roeland Park, KS; Kaitlyn & Grace van Asselt of McPherson, KS; Bryanna (Eric) Baker, Anya and LiLi King, and Cheyenne Beardsley, of Albuquerque, NM; Madalyn and Sophia van Asselt of Leawood, KS; Adeline and Ian van Asselt of Lake Oswego, OR; and stepgrandchild, Danielle (John) Bishay of Bennington, NE; and great-grandchildren: Emma and Lienna Baker, Angela and Gideon King, and Ava Redmon, of Albuquerque, NM. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews and their children living in the Netherlands and the US. Jan was preceded in death by wife, Peggy; his parents; brothers, Piet, Herman, and Gerrit van Asselt; sisters, Diene Uenk, and Johanna Boseman; sisters-in-law, Mieneke, Truus and Gerrie van Asselt, and Shirley Sargent; and brothers-in-law, Gerrit Bosman, Johan Uenk, and Stan Sargent. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, 26 September, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, 27 September, at the McPherson Church of the Brethren with Rev. Jeff Bach officiating. Jan's final resting place will be in the McPherson Cemetery. A private inurnment will take place prior to the memorial service. Memorials may be given to the McPherson Opera House or the McPherson Church of the Brethren in care of the Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.stockhamfamily.com.