Obituary for Janny van Dam
Jannetje (Janny) Koert van Dam passed from this earth December 24, 2022, at the age of 93. Janny was born in Oude Tonge, the Netherlands on June 18, 1929. She was the oldest of 5 children. She discovered many natural talents as a young girl. She learned to knit at 5 years old making and mending socks for her brothers and her baby sister. An accomplished seamstress Janny was able to make patterns and create something new out of anything.
Her talents were not limited to just needlework/handiwork. She also had the voice of an angel and could dance to absolutely any style of music. In her youth she played the mandolin and the drums with her brothers in a musical club called the Zonnekloppers (The Sun Beaters). Her brothers were extremely talented musicians as well and they could play six-sided harmonicas plus sing and dance.
Janny spent her youth (10-16) in Nazi occupied Netherlands. She suffered the loss of many family members and Jewish friends to concentration camps. She witnessed her teacher dragged from her classroom and executed in front of his students. She never forgot these events, and many shaped the person she became, her door was always open to anyone who needed help.
Shortly after the war ended when she was 17 years old, she met a young soldier named Jan van Dam. They saw each other many times on the tram between Oude Tong and Oolgensplaat where Jan lived. He eventually kissed her “kissable lips” as he always referred to them. They were married February 23, 1950, in Oude Tonge and moved to Ooltgensplaat to begin their life together and raise their family.
Three years after their wedding a disastrous flood on January 31- February 1, 1953, covered the island Goeree-OverFlakkee, where they lived. Many of Jan and Janny’s family members, including her beloved grandparents and her only and younger sister Neeltje (Nellie) were lost in the cold North Sea water. Nellie was born when Janny was 15 years old and was the joy of her life. She loved caring for her baby sister and was devastated to lose her little sister at only 9 years old.
In 1951 Cornelia was born and in 1953 Neeltje was born. After surviving a war and a flood Jan and Janny decided to move and start a new life elsewhere. An ad in a local paper offered to assist families wishing to move out of the war-ravaged Netherlands. The options were Canada, Australia or the United States. Jan, Janny, Corry and Nellie boarded the immigrant ship the Skaubryn in September of 1956. After 10 days, which included a mid-Atlantic hurricane, they landed in New York harbor on September 30, 1956. They then took and train across the USA to Wisconsin where they were met by Mr. Homer Williams of the Wern Farms to begin their new life in Waukesha Wisconsin. Their quest for the American dream began when they landed and continued when they started their own janitorial service two years later. Their son, Leendert Andries (Laine) was born a year after that in 1959. They both worked very hard to learn a new language, new customs and how to run a business. They purchased automobiles, and their first home and after some years, were able to build a big family home on an acre of land. There was a robust community of friends and with many Dutch immigrants in the area. They hosted many backyard parties, picnics and BBQs. They were embracing life in America and became proud American citizens in 1966.
Getting close to retirement age they sold their janitorial business but were not yet ready to really retire. Not working was not in either of their DNA. They worked well together with Janny being a knowledgeable bookkeeper and Jan being very handy. They became managers of several large apartment complexes in Waukesha County. They eventually moved to Menomonee Falls where they lived and managed an apartment complex until Jan passed away in February of 2017. Janny then moved to a senior living community but was able to make one last trip to the Netherlands at the young age of 88.
Our mother taught us to sing and dance and enjoy every moment of life!! That gift has been passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We will miss our beautiful, talented and smart as a whip mother. Tot Ziens Mom, Oma and OverOma. You will always be the song on our lips, the joy in our step and the sun on our face.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Jan van Dam, parents Josina and Pieter Koert, brothers Cornelis (Kees), Sebastian (Bas), Wilhelm (Wim), a sister Neeltje (Nellie). She is survived by her children, Cornelia (Corry) van Aelstyn (Joseph), Neeltje (Nellie) Schmitt (Steven) and Leendert (Laine) Andries van Dam. She is survived by grandchildren Jennifer Richards (Tony) and great grandchildren Jackson and Bryn; Shannon Leclair (Josh) and great grandchildren Winston and Oliver; Lauren Schmitt (Steve Arens) and great grandchildren Luca and baby boy due in March; Jessica (Ben) Reynolds great grandson Jaxon and great granddaughter Ellie; Jan Michael van Dam and great grandchildren Laine, Gwen, and Cam; Casey van Dam (partner Liz); Abigale Vieth (Scott) great grandchild Warren; Step-granddaughter Catie O’keefe (David) and their children Kelsey, Molly, and Emily; Step grandson, Joe Van Aelstyn jr. (Angela) and their children Sohpie, Varek, Ava and Jillian; Step granddaughter Megan Holmes( Brian) and their children Jack and Marissa; Step grandson Michael Van Aelstyn; Step granddaughter Julie Antonelli (Fred) and their children Alexis and Anthony. She is survived by a special friend Beverly Wood (Aunt Bev) of Colorado. Beverly was instrumental in helping navigate the early days when language and customs were unknown and difficult. Janny is also survived by many nieces and nephews and family in the Netherlands and many, many friends in both the Netherland and the United States.
A celebration of life will be held in June. Charitable donations can be sent to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the family of Janny van Dam c/o Nellie Schmitt at 618 Jefferson St. Sheboygan Falls Wi 53085.
Her talents were not limited to just needlework/handiwork. She also had the voice of an angel and could dance to absolutely any style of music. In her youth she played the mandolin and the drums with her brothers in a musical club called the Zonnekloppers (The Sun Beaters). Her brothers were extremely talented musicians as well and they could play six-sided harmonicas plus sing and dance.
Janny spent her youth (10-16) in Nazi occupied Netherlands. She suffered the loss of many family members and Jewish friends to concentration camps. She witnessed her teacher dragged from her classroom and executed in front of his students. She never forgot these events, and many shaped the person she became, her door was always open to anyone who needed help.
Shortly after the war ended when she was 17 years old, she met a young soldier named Jan van Dam. They saw each other many times on the tram between Oude Tong and Oolgensplaat where Jan lived. He eventually kissed her “kissable lips” as he always referred to them. They were married February 23, 1950, in Oude Tonge and moved to Ooltgensplaat to begin their life together and raise their family.
Three years after their wedding a disastrous flood on January 31- February 1, 1953, covered the island Goeree-OverFlakkee, where they lived. Many of Jan and Janny’s family members, including her beloved grandparents and her only and younger sister Neeltje (Nellie) were lost in the cold North Sea water. Nellie was born when Janny was 15 years old and was the joy of her life. She loved caring for her baby sister and was devastated to lose her little sister at only 9 years old.
In 1951 Cornelia was born and in 1953 Neeltje was born. After surviving a war and a flood Jan and Janny decided to move and start a new life elsewhere. An ad in a local paper offered to assist families wishing to move out of the war-ravaged Netherlands. The options were Canada, Australia or the United States. Jan, Janny, Corry and Nellie boarded the immigrant ship the Skaubryn in September of 1956. After 10 days, which included a mid-Atlantic hurricane, they landed in New York harbor on September 30, 1956. They then took and train across the USA to Wisconsin where they were met by Mr. Homer Williams of the Wern Farms to begin their new life in Waukesha Wisconsin. Their quest for the American dream began when they landed and continued when they started their own janitorial service two years later. Their son, Leendert Andries (Laine) was born a year after that in 1959. They both worked very hard to learn a new language, new customs and how to run a business. They purchased automobiles, and their first home and after some years, were able to build a big family home on an acre of land. There was a robust community of friends and with many Dutch immigrants in the area. They hosted many backyard parties, picnics and BBQs. They were embracing life in America and became proud American citizens in 1966.
Getting close to retirement age they sold their janitorial business but were not yet ready to really retire. Not working was not in either of their DNA. They worked well together with Janny being a knowledgeable bookkeeper and Jan being very handy. They became managers of several large apartment complexes in Waukesha County. They eventually moved to Menomonee Falls where they lived and managed an apartment complex until Jan passed away in February of 2017. Janny then moved to a senior living community but was able to make one last trip to the Netherlands at the young age of 88.
Our mother taught us to sing and dance and enjoy every moment of life!! That gift has been passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We will miss our beautiful, talented and smart as a whip mother. Tot Ziens Mom, Oma and OverOma. You will always be the song on our lips, the joy in our step and the sun on our face.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Jan van Dam, parents Josina and Pieter Koert, brothers Cornelis (Kees), Sebastian (Bas), Wilhelm (Wim), a sister Neeltje (Nellie). She is survived by her children, Cornelia (Corry) van Aelstyn (Joseph), Neeltje (Nellie) Schmitt (Steven) and Leendert (Laine) Andries van Dam. She is survived by grandchildren Jennifer Richards (Tony) and great grandchildren Jackson and Bryn; Shannon Leclair (Josh) and great grandchildren Winston and Oliver; Lauren Schmitt (Steve Arens) and great grandchildren Luca and baby boy due in March; Jessica (Ben) Reynolds great grandson Jaxon and great granddaughter Ellie; Jan Michael van Dam and great grandchildren Laine, Gwen, and Cam; Casey van Dam (partner Liz); Abigale Vieth (Scott) great grandchild Warren; Step-granddaughter Catie O’keefe (David) and their children Kelsey, Molly, and Emily; Step grandson, Joe Van Aelstyn jr. (Angela) and their children Sohpie, Varek, Ava and Jillian; Step granddaughter Megan Holmes( Brian) and their children Jack and Marissa; Step grandson Michael Van Aelstyn; Step granddaughter Julie Antonelli (Fred) and their children Alexis and Anthony. She is survived by a special friend Beverly Wood (Aunt Bev) of Colorado. Beverly was instrumental in helping navigate the early days when language and customs were unknown and difficult. Janny is also survived by many nieces and nephews and family in the Netherlands and many, many friends in both the Netherland and the United States.
A celebration of life will be held in June. Charitable donations can be sent to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the family of Janny van Dam c/o Nellie Schmitt at 618 Jefferson St. Sheboygan Falls Wi 53085.