- Date Of Birth: June 21, 1917
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2010
- State: Illinois
Hendrikus “Hank” Kolenberg, age 92, of Edwardsville, Illinois died April 8, 2010 at his daughter’s home in Edwardsville, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Maaike, nee Vos, Kolenberg in 1997.
Hank was born June 21, 1917 in Rotterdam, Holland. He was an avid stamp collector since he was six years old. He had to leave school as a 4th grader so he could work to earn money for his family by delivering bread to people’s homes. While he was serving in the Dutch Army, he married Maaike Vos by proxy and she joined him in Indonesia. While serving in WWII, he became a Japanese prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years while his wife and daughter were placed in a Japanese concentration camp. While he was a POW, he worked on the Bridge of the River Kwai and in a coal mine. After retiring from the Dutch Army, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1960. After learning to speak English, he worked for Sears selling vacuum cleaners and sewing machines. He retired from Sears after 20 years of service. After his wife’s death in 1997, he lived with his son, John until May of 2008 when he moved to Edwardsville, Illinois. His final days were spent listening to his favorite music surrounded by people who loved him.
Mr. Kolenberg is survived by his daughters, Arda Lovsto and husband Trygve of San Diego, CA, Annelies Johnson and husband James Duffey of Edwardsville, IL; son John Kolenberg, of somewhere in Mexico; grandchildren, Trygve Lovsto of California, Brighetta (Lovsto) Shae of California, Chantelle Johnson of Oregon, Kimberly (Johnson) Harris of Illinois, Zachary Johnson of Missouri, and Jheri Johnson of Illinois; great grandchildren, Madison Shae, Molly Shae, Harry Shae, Matthew Lovsto, Brandon Lovsto, Noah Harris and Wesley Johnson.
