Jack VanderSys

Jacobus Nicolaas van der Sijs was born on October 6, 1936 in Leiderdorp, The Netherlands, as the second son to Arie and Catrien van der Sijs, who owned a successful bakery/pastry business there.

After high school, Jack attended Jr. College and was drafted for 18 months in the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

In his teens he met Ria van der Hoeven, whose family had returned from Indonesia, where her Dad was commissioned as a railroad engineer on the island of Sumatra.

Jack was able to immigrate with Ria to California through a special arrangement with the Dutch and American Governments, which allowed them to be subsidized as Ria's 14 year stay in Indonesia qualified her to do so.

They arrived in New York by ship at the end of March, having married on the 2nd of March 1960. They spent a week in the New York area with Jack's Uncle Bas’ family and finally flew to California, where they were welcomed by Matt VanderSys and family and stayed there for 1 month on his dairy.

They then rented a home on Jersey Ave in Artesia, from where they walked to their first and only church home, First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. They eventually purchased their home on Summer Avenue in Artesia 1969.

Jack got into the Retail Business with May Company and later as an executive trainee at Bullock's Lakewood. He become a Young Men's Clothing Buyer, next a Divisional Sales Manager for the Men's Store, and thereafter Divisional Sales Manager of the Home Store for Macy's in South Coast Plaza. His retail career exposed him to markets in San Francisco, Texas, and New York.

He retired in 1998 and worked for 10 years in California as a travel guide for "Beter Uit," a travel agency in Holland. Many Dutch choirs were escorted through California and performed at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. He even took the Crystal Cathedral Choir to Holland on a very special sightseeing tour in 2004.

In 1969 and in 1971, Jack and Ria received their precious boys; gifts from the Lord, which gave them so much joy. Mark lives in Boise, Idaho with Kelley and their four children and daughter-in-law, and Jim lives in Huntington Beach with Chelsea and their son, Thomas James, with their daughter living in Colorado.

Jack was very involved in the social life of 1st Artesia C.R.C. and enjoyed entertaining. He loved cruises, both in the U.S. and in Europe and visiting his home country of Holland.

Jack volunteered at the Artesia Christian Home and was a good friend of the six pastors, who served at the church since 1960. Jack was FUN loving and loved Jesus as his personal Savior and Friend.