Bernardus Jan Kruissel

KRUISSEL, Bernardus Jan "Ben"
Kalamazoo Passed away Monday, May 19, 2008 at Kairos Dwelling. Ben was born September 22, 1915 in Sappemeer, The Netherlands.Ben was the youngest son of Johannes Bernardus Kruissel and Grietje Kruissel Woldhek. As a young man, Ben was a cook on a ship that hauled freight to and from many coastal cities in Europe. During World War II, Ben and his shipmates were forced into servitude onto German boats. Ben personally witnessed the bombings of the German cities of Kiel, Bremen and Hamburg. After the war, Ben left the sea that he loved and went to work for Schut and Hettema & Zonen in Winsum, The Netherlands. Winsum was the village where on April 24, 1946 he married Aafke "Evelyn" Klooster. They were married over 50 years until Evelyn died from pancreatic cancer in 2002. Ben and Evelyn and their children immigrated to Kalamazoo in February of 1960, where Ben worked at Mary Lou Bakery and retired from the Parchment Public School System. Ben is survived by his children, Hans Janice of Mattawan, Jane Roy Randen of Kalamazoo, Grace Bob Gilman of Kalamazoo and Ben Kruissel Jacki Kohlhaas of Paw Paw. He is also survived by numerous grand and great grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law, Jakob Klooster from The Netherlands, Ralph Klooster and sisters-in-law, Kina Wagenaar and Ria Bush all of the USA. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Corry Kruissel from The Netherlands. Preceding him in death besides his parents and wife were his grandson, Scott Dwyer and his siblings Fennie Gerben Posthumus, Tony Gre Hunter and brother, Frans Kruissel. Services will be held on Thursday at 1:00 PM in the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. with Rev. Loren Kotman officiating. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Interment will be at Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Kairos Dwelling. www.langelands.com 343-1508