John Wingerden

Obituary of John Van Wingerden

After a brief illness and surrounded for ten days by his children and grandchildren, John Van Wingerden (87) passed away at his home on Sunday, August 21, 2011. He was born on March 9, 1924 in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, the third of eight children. In 1943 he was recruited to work in a German labor camp. He managed to escape and found first a nursery man and then a farmer in Fulda willing to hire and protect him for the duration of the war. Because of this experience he developed a real appreciation of the German people and culture. These were pivotal years for him that made him be able to see beyond the small town of Naaldwijk to which he returned in June 1945, after a four-day bike trip from Fulda (He would want you to know this tidbit). At age 23 he started his own nursery in Naaldwijk and in 1949 he married his pre-war sweetheart Maria. Together they lovingly raised five children. Although a successful grower and businessman, he had always dreamed of moving to the USA. So, to assure a better future for their children, the family emigrated to Carpinteria, California in 1967 along with John?s brothers Case, Hank and Bill and his sister Annie and their respective spouses and children. John embraced his new homeland wholeheartedly. With limited English, but boundless energy and courage, the four brothers started "Dutch Brothers Nursery" in the Carpinteria Valley producing carnations and chrysanthemums in greenhouses brought over from Holland. In 1976 the brothers divided the business and John started Maximum Nursery, eventually becoming one of the first gerbera producers in the US. Although he was a passionate grower, the love of his life was his wife Maria, whom he cherished with all his heart. His children could not have wished for a better father; he loved them, encouraged them to get the university education he never got, sent them abroad for more education, and supported them in every way, always. He instilled in them his sense of values, discipline and hard work, generosity and a love of life. John and Maria travelled the world extensively, including many trips to Holland and Germany, reconnecting with family and friends. John loved parties and on any given date he could find a reason to celebrate. Grateful for his success, he donated generously to charitable and civic organizations, including the local Girls Inc, the YMCA, cancer research, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Hospice Care, as well as to other causes far and wide. John is survived by his children Els (Andy), Carla (Leslie), Yoze (Larry), Winfried (Dinah) and Eduard (Nadia); his grandchildren Sebastian, Vanessa, Naomi, Madison, Sofia, Eva, Florica, Claudia, Ivan, and Anastasia. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maria (2007), his brothers Case, Hank, Bill, Martien, and sister Will, and many in-laws and is survived by his brother Piet (Leny) and his sister Annie and numerous other family members. A Mass is scheduled at 11:00 am on Friday, August 26th, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito followed by a Celebration of Life. Remembrances may be made to Girls Inc of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93013 with "John & Maria Van Wingerden Scholarship" on the memo line. The family would like to thank the staff of the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara for their assistance during the last ten days of Dad?s life. We could not have done this without them.
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