Adrianus VanderHoeven
October 25, 1928 - December 14, 2012
Obituary
Adrian VanderHoeven
10/25/1928 ~ 12/14/2012
Adrianus VanderHoeven was born Oct. 25, 1928 in den Haag (The Hague), the Netherlands to Adrianus VanderHoeven and Lamberta Johanna VanderSnoek. He passed away Dec. 14, 2012 in Bonney Lake, Washington, at the home of his daughter, Pam.
As a child in the early 1940s, Adrian experienced the horrors and starvation of living through World War II in the Netherlands. Adrian was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a young child and attended regularly. He was finally baptized and became a member in 1947. He served three years in the Dutch army and again experienced the anguish and cruelty of war in Indonesia.
In 1953, Adrian met Jenny VanStratten and fell in love. The same year he fulfilled his dream of Immigrating to the United States to be closer to the LDS Church. He returned to Holland in 1955 where he and Jenny married Sept. 15, 1955 and prepared for a new life together in America. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple Jan. 18, 1958. They were blessed with four daughters and two sons.
Adrian retired as a civilian with the U.S. Department of Defense. While working for the government the family lived in California, Ohio, Kansas City, Washington, Spain and Germany. Since 1975 they called Federal Way, Washington, home.
A devout member of the LDS Church, Adrian served in bishoprics, high councils and many other church callings. He was best known for his devotion to genealogy and submitted hundreds of thousands of names for temple work to be completed. He and Jenny also served many years together in the temple, as well as two full-time missions to Germany, helping with Family History Centers through much of Europe.
Jenny preceded him in death April 5, 2005. He later found companionship and married Mary Jane Johnson. He is survived by Mary Jane; a brother, Ludy VanderHoeven; and half-sisters, Marianne Merkle and Alice Brands; and his children: Jenny Diana (Frank) Toves; Karen (Robert) Lutz; Adrian (Kirsten) VanderHoeven; Judy (Jack) Walsh; Pamela (Michael) Sirrine; Jeffrey (Valerie) VanderHoeven; 31 grandchildren; and 25 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 841 South 308th St., Federal Way, WA. A viewing will be held an hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Washington Memorial Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on line at bonneywatson.com/obituaries/.
Dad, we will miss you until the day we join that great reunion.
Dear Adrian: With great sorrow we learned of your passing. You fought a good fight untill the very end. Now you are with Jenny your eternal companion. The greatest legacy is that the both of you raised wonderful children, who in turn follow your examples. It must have been a great reunion when you passed through the veil. We look forward to the day when we will meet again. Love Ludy, Tonny and Family.
On behalf of my father, S. Del Low, I am expressing his deep love and affection for Adrian. The two of them served together in the Seattle Temple and were dear friends. Del’s thoughts and prayers go out to every member of Adrian’s family, together with his appreciation for the love, respect, and affection that he and Adrian enjoyed.
Dear VanderHoeven Family,
We feel so honored and blessed to have had your father and grandfather in our lives. His testimony of the gospel was so strong. He is truly a great man and his influence will continue to be felt here on earth.
We are also so very grateful for the happiness he brought to Mary Jane over the last few years. Thank you for sharing him with her and our family.
Much Love,
Cameron, Carrie and Charly Johnson
We are very sorry to hear of your loss of Uncle Adrian. Scott has fond memories of his childhood in Federal Way. Our prayers are wth you today and thru the holidays.
I love you dad. Thank you for doing so much for all of us.