Ronald Joseph Van Hollebeke

Born in Oak Park, IL on August 4, 1934, Ron was the fourth of five sons born to Maurice and Suzanne Van Hollebeke. He married Mary "JoAnne" Carey on December 26, 1959 in Seattle. On July 17, 2016, surrounded by his wife and nearly all of his children and grandchildren, he peacefully left this world to meet his Jesus. His heart had simply had enough.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, Phil Evans and brothers Ralph, Robert and Ray. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, JoAnne; brother Richard (Monda) of Edmonds; children Tom of Bremerton, Jim (Tawny) of Bremerton, Diane Gebenini (Louie) of Greenwater, Paul (Paula) of Seattle, Laura Girard (Rian) of Bremerton, and Karen Dimond (Jim) of Puyallup; 14 grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and for 31 short hours, his dear sister-in-law, Jane, who was married to his oldest brother, Ralph.

Ron's mother, Suzanne (Mierheaghe), arrived on Ellis Island from Wyngene, Belgium in April, 1912. Fortunately for Ron, his siblings and their descendants, her family was not on the Titanic, which happened to be sailing/sinking at the same time. His father, Maurice, also emigrated from Belgium (Ruyselede) and both families settled in East Moline, IL where Maurice would eventually meet Miss Mierheaghe. In 1942, Maurice sought a grocery and nursery opportunity in Seattle and that is how the family got to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The Van Hollebekes first settled in the Seward Park neighborhood on Lake Washington in Seattle. As a young man, Ron was an avid water skiier and car enthusiast. He graduated from O'Dea High School in 1952 and enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War serving on a sea-going tug. He also attended Seattle University.

On September 8, 1958, Ron was introduced to Mary "JoAnne" Carey on a blind date. This encounter blossomed into a full-fledged courtship and on the day after Christmas the next year, the two were married at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Seattle (now Shoreline).

By 1964, the Ron Van Hollebekes already had three cute little kids and because of a job transfer with Investors Diversified Services (IDS), they packed up and moved across the Sound to Bremerton. There they found a nice piece of property on the tip of Rocky Point replete with a summer cabin. That cabin would expand to house status as the Van Hollebeke family itself expanded. Ron loved the water and because of his transfer to breathtaking Bremerton was able to pass that love on to his grateful children.

For 52 years, Ron was a dedicated and involved member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish where he made many lifelong friends and served in a multitude of capacities. He loved his faith and never wavered in his beliefs.

Until his death, Ron had been the longest active member of the Kiwanis Club of Bremerton. He was a Past-President and a Lieutenant Governor for the Northwest District of Kiwanis. It was Ron who, in 1970, interested the club in the idea of having an Annual Air Fair at the then Kitsap County Airport (now Bremerton National). Having announced air shows all over the west and because of his years of flying experience and his gift of gab, he was a natural for the emcee job. And so it was. And so it also was that he performed in these air shows and thus had grand opportunities to scare the living day lights out of his youngest daughters who did not yet understand what a "comedy act" was all about and that the plume of smoke coming from the raceway on the other side of the tall evergreens wasn't really from their daddy's plane exploding from sudden impact. Later, his kids would appreciate the humor. Much, much later.

Ron was involved in vast and numerous civic activities in his community. But his smile, his laughter, his humor, and his love for his family will be remembered and missed most.

A funeral Mass for the repose of his soul will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 11am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton with a Rosary beginning at 10:30am in the Church. There will be a reception in the Parish Hall after the service. The burial will be the following day, Wednesday, July 27 at noon at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th St., Seattle, WA 98155.