Willem Howard Varekamp
March 2, 1916 - August 21, 2011
Obituary
Willem Howard Varekamp passed away at home with family on August 21, 2011 at age 95. Willem was born March 2nd 1916 to Jacobus Johannes and Marie Van Oosten Varekamp in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Will joined older sister Anne 1914 and was followed by Sophie 1918. In 1919, the Varekamp family moved to the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle, where Jacobus worked with his brother, Louis, as house painters.
Will attended Whittier Elementary School and Ballard High School, graduating in 1934. Will worked at Seattle Cedar Mills, as a bicycle messenger for Western Union, an elevator operator and a Letter Carrier for the U.S.Postal Service until he enlisted for the U.S.Navy in 1942.
Will was stationed in Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands during World War II and achieved the rank of Mailman 1st class. Will transferred to the Fleet Post Office in San Francisco, California in 1944 where he met and married Navy Wave, Lois Mae Hanson, in June, 1945.
After the war, Will and Lois moved back to Ballard where Will resumed his work with the U.S. Postal Service and started a family. Will and Lois raised three children Elaine, Jean and Don. Will and Lois were longtime members of Emmanuel Bible Church where they were especially involved in youth ministries and supporting missionaries during homestays.
Will delivered mail in the Ballard area and downtown Seattle until his retirement from the Postal Service in 1969. He was a 75 year member of the American Postal Workers Union. After his retirement, he worked part-time for Peoples National Bank.
In recent years, Will enjoyed travel and spending time with family and friends. Will and Lois moved from Ballard to Lake Meridian in 1997 and then to the Farrington Court Retirement facility in Kent in 2002, where he lived until his death on August 21st.
Will is survived by Lois, his wife of 66 years, daughter Elaine Johnson Larry of Portland, daughter Jean Boldan of Kent, son Don Varekamp Karen Gardner of Seattle, four grandchildren Aimee Martin, Eric Boldan, Carolyn and Daniel Johnson and three great grandchildren Drew, Emilee and Sarah Strong.
A private service will be held at the Tahoma Veterans National Cemetery in Covington, Washington. A open house celebrating Will’s life will be held at Farrington Court, 516 Kenosia Avenue, Kent, WA on October 1st from 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon.
from australia,greetings to the family
Iwas born in 1935 so so 19 years yonger then willem my father nname is also willem
wonder if we are related
your father must have had a very long live
greetings
Kees