Johanna M Pol

Johanna Pol, affectionately known as "Jeanne," was born on September 16th, 1931, in the city of Geleen, situated in the southern province of Limburg in the Netherlands. She was the cherished eldest daughter of Jacob Jozef and Leonie Bastin, surrounded by six younger sisters and one brother. In 1954, fate intervened when Johanna met the love of her life, Lucas J Pol, during a chance encounter at a cafe in Limburg. Their connection deepened during a dance at carnival, despite the distance between Northern and Southern Holland.

In a testament to their enduring love, Lucas proposed in the winter of 1955, and with it came the promise of a new life in Australia. Facing the prospect of separation, Johanna courageously embarked on a solo journey, boarding a ship that navigated the Caribbean islands, the Panama Canal, and finally to Australia. Just one day after her arrival, on September 14th, 1955, Lucas and Johanna were united in marriage, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey together.

In their initial year of marriage, Lucas served as a groundskeeper, while Jeanne took on the roles of a housekeeper and cook, all in exchange for room and board from a dentist and his wife. However, their circumstances changed when Jeanne became pregnant, prompting both of them to resign from their positions due to a policy prohibiting children. Subsequently, Lucas secured a position as a draftsman at Armco, where he demonstrated exceptional skills.

Their family expanded with the birth of Frederick (Frank) in 1956, followed by Lucas (Luke) in July of 1957. They initially resided in a trailer on purchased land until they constructed a garage, which served as their temporary home until the completion of their house. Leonie arrived in 1958, and Gary followed in 1961.

Johanna's longing for family prompted the decision to immigrate to the United States in 1964.

Their journey took them through Tahiti and Panama, landing them in California, where they eventually settled in Riverside. In 1967, Maria completed their family. Johanna dedicated herself to raising her five children, channeling her talents in sewing, knitting, and crocheting, skills acquired in the boarding schools run by nuns. Her pride manifested in creating handmade clothing for her daughters.

Moving to California provided Jeanne with the opportunity to fulfill her desire of returning to Holland and seeing family once again. The first of multiple trips took place in 1972, lasting five weeks, and involved the entire family. Over the years, additional journeys to Holland followed, along with visits to Canada to spend time with her sister Cory and brother Frans, as well as their respective children. Jeanne found great joy in these reunions, but in her heart Holland was always her home, and she missed it dearly. Towards the end of her life, it became the main topic of her conversations. In 1976, Jeanne and Lucas built their second home on Eton Lane, a place that became a haven for family and friends.

In the early 1970s, a newfound desire to own their own business emerged. Lucas pursued this goal by becoming an independent draftsman and establishing Luke Pol Engineering. Jeanne actively contributed by assisting in the delivery of plans to customers. This initiative evolved into the establishment of the family business, Luke Pol Construction. The venture prompted Jeanne to enhance her education, acquiring bookkeeping skills to effectively manage the business.

They sustained the business until the late 1990s when the decision to retire was reached.

In the late 80s, they embraced the roles of Oma and Opa with the arrival of Natalie and Alana (Luke Jr.). Their family circle expanded further in 1991 with the addition of daughter-in-law Jody Blackston and son-in-law David Reynolds. This welcomed extension brought joy, as the family grew to include a total of eight grandchildren: Travis, Cody, and Austin (Gary and Jody Pol), along with Hannah, David, and Amanda (Maria and David Reynolds), completing the family circle.

Jeanne found happiness in the laughter and adventures of her grandchildren, welcoming them to swim in the family pool and sharing her love for gardening, sewing, and crocheting. After 26 years on Eton Lane, Jeanne and Lucas embarked on new adventures, living in Running Springs and eventually settling in Park City, UT. While she embraced the changing seasons, the longing for warmer weather led them back to California in 2008.

Life took a challenging turn when Lucas was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, necessitating his placement in memory care in 2020, Jeanne made the decision to move closer to him, residing in assisted living. After an incredible journey together spanning almost 66 years, Lucas passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. Shortly thereafter, Jeanne herself sadly entered memory care in 2023, facing the same condition that had affected her husband.

Despite the trials, Jeanne's life was blessed by her five great-grandchildren: Bradley, Wyatt, and Marcus Hollingsworth (children of Hannah and Brad), Everett Reynolds with the promise of one more on the way (children of David and Haley), and Charlotte Salamon (child of Amanda and Jeffrey). These little ones brought warmth and joy to her later years, creating beautiful moments for Jeanne to cherish.

Johanna Pol, a devoted wife, mother, Oma, and Great Oma, left her mark on those who knew her. Her legacy lives on in her creations, the love she shared, and countless memories. Johanna Pol passed on December 27, 2023, surrounded by family at the age of 92, and she'll be greatly missed.

Dag Oma