Peter Vanos

1937 - 2017

Peter W. Vanos, Sr.

March 3, 1937 - March 1, 2017

Peter W. Vanos, Sr., resident of Woodside, CA, passed away peacefully on March 1st, 2017 with his daughters by his side. His death was due to complications from a hemorrhagic stroke. Peter was a California flower grower, loving husband and father of four children.
Born Petrus Willhemus van Os on March 3, 1937, Peter passed away just two days shy of his 80th birthday. The 2nd of 12 children born to Nicolaas and Anna van Os in The Hague, Holland, Peter was a man deeply devoted to hard work and family.
Peter's formal education ended at age 14 when it became necessary for him to work full time at his father's nursery. Longing for more opportunity, he immigrated to the U.S at age 19. After working a few months in the Central Valley, he eventually settled in the Bay Area and worked for Rod McLellan, a flower company in South San Francisco.
In 1958, Peter and a friend decided to try their luck at starting their own business. They rented a small piece of land in Half Moon Bay and built a flower nursery from the ground up. In 1960, Peter returned to Holland to marry his wife, Josepha (José) Giezeman. He eventually moved his flower nursery to Pescadero, CA in 1964. Today, Westland Nursery is owned and operated by his son, Peter Jr., a fact Peter took great pride in.
Peter and José raised their four children in San Mateo, CA. Hard work was always an emphasis, but there were also many laughs to be had, as his trademark humor will be remembered as one of his finest qualities.
In 1994, Peter and José built their dream home in Woodside, CA. There, he grew beautiful roses and enjoyed having his family over for pool parties. The couple also loved playing bridge.
While he may only have had an 8th grade education, he was a self-made, self-educated man who taught himself English, Spanish and Portuguese. Those who knew him know he could be a little tough sometimes, but deep down he was a very kind-hearted man.
He leaves behind his daughter, Annette Vanos, his son, Peter Vanos, Jr. (Simone), and his daughter, Amy Conaway (Paul). He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Nick, Brendan, Thea, Jack, Kate, Victoria, and Peter William III aka William. His siblings, Piet, Kees, Toos, Nel, Annie, Jan, Nic, Wim, and Ludwien and their spouses, as well as many nieces and nephews also survive him.
Peter was preceded in death by José, his loving and devoted wife of 48 years, whom he missed dearly. He also remained devastated by the loss of his son, Nick, a Phoenix Suns basketball player who died in a tragic plane crash in 1987. His brothers Cor and Aad also preceded him in death.
A funeral mass will be held for Peter on Thursday, March 9th at 10:00 am at St. Gregory's Church, 2715 Hacienda St., San Mateo. Burial services will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park following mass, Highway 92 at Skyline Blvd. A reception will follow in the Vista Room, also at Skylawn. To honor his life-long career in the flower business, his family requests your support for California flower growers by giving flowers to those you hold close to your heart.