Adrian Ginhoven

Mr. Adrian Van Ginhoven passed away June 21, 2010 at home with family by his side. He was born July 27, 1923 in Huntington, New York to Herbert Cornelius and Elizabeth (van der Willik) Van Ginhoven, the oldest boy of ten children. He married Estella Louise Jacobs on May 26, 1944 and they just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.

Adrian and Estella lived in Miami, FL after their marriage and then moved to Peoria, IL that same year where Adrian worked at the Northern Regional Research Laboratory. In 1946 they moved to Puyallup, WA and Adrian worked at MacLean Bulb Company. They lived in Puyallup until 1956, except for a two-year period when they moved to Babylon, NY to help with the family business from 1952 – 1954. In 1956 the family moved to Sawyer, MI and Adrian managed Chikaming Gardens where he raised and sold azaleas for 37 years, retiring in 1993.

Adrian was a loving husband, father and grandfather and he took great pleasure in spending time with family. He spent many hours playing games with his three children as they were growing up and continued to enjoy playing cards and other games with his grown children and eight grandchildren. He organized a Van Ginhoven family reunion in 2006 on Chincoteague Island, VA, which was attended by his seven surviving siblings, their spouses, many children and grandchildren. He produced a DVD for the occasion, which documented the Van Ginhoven family history in the Netherlands and the United States.

Adrian was a life-long learner. He kept up with the latest technology, spent many hours working on his family genealogy, loved to travel and was a voracious reader. He especially liked to read historical biographies and novels, the daily newspaper and the daily baseball scores. Adrian was an avid Dodgers fan and followed them from their origins in Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles. He also loved to play golf and was an active member of the Chikaming Country Club for forty years. Adrian continued to play golf well into his 80’s, scoring his first hole-in-one at 84! He enjoyed going to breakfast or lunch with friends and was always ready for a game of cribbage with one of his children.

Adrian was an active and well-respected community member, and he was especially interested in education. He was elected to the Chikaming School Board in 1960 and was president of the board at the time of the consolidation of the Chikaming, New Troy and Three Oaks School Districts into the River Valley Public Schools in 1963. He served on the Interim River Valley School Board and was then elected to the River Valley School Board in 1966, where he served in the capacity of Secretary, Vice President and President until he stepped down in 1978. He was honored to present diplomas to all three of his children at their high school graduations.

Adrian was also elected to the Berrien County Intermediate School Board in 1968 where he served as Treasurer, Vice President and finally President for 5 years until he stepped down in 1987. He served on local or intermediate school boards for a total of 27 years.

After retirement, Adrian continued his commitment to public service and was a member of the Chikaming Township Master Plan Committee and the Chikaming Township Board of Review. He was asked to fill an opening as a Chikaming Township Trustee in 2007 and was elected to that position in 2008. Adrian was also active in the Harbert Community Church where he served two terms as the Financial Secretary and one term as Treasurer. He served the church in several other capacities as well and even in his 80’s volunteered to help with the Half-Day Program, providing care for school children on no-school days.

Adrian is survived by his loving wife, Estella and his children, Lee (Elizabeth) Van Ginhoven of Stevensville, David (Barbara) Van Ginhoven of West Olive, MI and Janice (Dean) Warner of Ann Arbor, MI.

He is also survived by grandchildren Bryan Van Ginhoven of Mesa, AZ, Kristina (fiance' Steven Anderson)Van Ginhoven of East Lansing, MI, Morgan Van Ginhoven of Stevensville, Matthew (Jessica Baker)Van Ginhoven of Boston, MA, Laurelin (Travis) Barkel 0f Kansas City, MO, Evelyn (Brian) Sommariva of Plymouth, MI, Sharon (Justin) Philips of Philadelphia, PA and Ensign Daniel Warner, USN of Coronado, CA.

Adrian’s siblings Catherine Crowley, Constance Christner, Elizabeth (Bob) Koles, Jack (Karen) Van Ginhoven, George (Evelyn) Van Ginhoven, John (Marilyn) Van Ginhoven and many nieces and nephews also survive.

Adrian was predeceased by his parents and brothers Robert, Herbert and Richard Van Ginhoven.

The Van Ginhoven family would like to thank family and friends that kept Adrian in their thoughts and prayers and assisted in his loving care throughout his illness.

A celebration of life service will be held at Harbert Community Church on Sat. July 3 at 2:00 pm with visitation one hour before services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at aafa.org.

Gathering of Family and Friends

1-2 PM ,Saturday, July 3, 2010
Harbert Community Church
6444 Harbert Road Harbert, MI 49115

Memorial Service

2 PM ,Saturday, July 3, 2010
Harbert Community Church
6444 Harbert Road Harbert, MI 49115