JOHANNA VAN KAL

Mrs. Van Kal passed away October 10, 2012 with her granddaughter Kathy at her side. Jo had been in the loving care of the staff at HomePlace Special Care Center during her final years.
She was born as Johanna Hendrika Baan October 20, 1920 in Rotterdam, Holland. It was in Holland she met the love of her life, John Van Kal, and married in 1938. Their daughter, Joanne, was born in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. As a family they endured the invasion of Holland by Nazi Germany. During this time John was captured by Nazi soldiers and taken to a concentration camp. After five days, Jo and her father in law devised a plan to free John from the camp. The pair rode on bicycles for 100 miles to Amersfoort. After a harrowing escape the three made their way back, on two bicycles, to safety.
In 1950 the family made their way through Ellis Island searching for life in America. Their travels brought them to Whidbey Island, settling in Oak Harbor. They began working as janitors at night in the local bank while teaching themselves to speak English. Soon each became successful business owners, Jo opening a clothing store, Mode O Day, and John a residential builder with Van Kal Homes. Jo owned her main street business for 25 years until she retired.
In the late 1960’s the Van Kal’s teamed up with other Dutch immigrants and created Holland Happening to celebrate their Dutch heritage.
Jo and John spent many years camping and gardening together. Their grandchildren were a strong focus of their lives as well as their friends the Boonstra, Fakkema and Faber families, just to name a few. Jo and John also spent a great deal of time traveling with John’s sister and husband Christine and Wim Goverde who live in Snohomish. John Van Kal passed away in 2003.
Jo was known to her grandchildren as ‘Gram’ or ‘Oma’. Each of them has special memories of the personal attention she gave. She was the creator of many holiday dinners from Christmas to Easter in which there was always ‘room for one more’ at the table should an unexpected friend drop by. She was the maker of the Dutch pancake and meatballs on the weekend, which only she knew how to make just right.
Jo is survived by her daughter Joanne Boyer, granddaughters Kathy (Butch) Reinstra, Cindy (Gene) Watson and Carla (Vince) Terlaje. Jo has four great-grandchildren; Sherri (Jeb) Sheidler, Michael (Sarah) Reinstra, Chad Perdue and Kyle Terlaje. She is also survived by 4 great-great grandchildren.
Please join them in celebrating her life. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Oak Harbor Emblem Club #450.
Please join her family in a Service of Remembrance on Saturday, October 20th at 2pm, Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor WA with Pastor Randy Beumer of the Christian Reformed Church. A reception will follow. Friends and family are encouraged to offer condolences and share memories utilizing the Memory Book hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com

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