John Cornelius Schilperoort, 99, died May 13, 2015, at his home in Brownstown. He was the oldest of nine living children of William and Necia Schilperoort who immigrated to the Yakima Valle from Holland in 1911. An older brother died in early childhood. He was born in a small farmhouse in Mabton, WA on April 20, 1916 to Necia and William Schilperoort. He died surrounded by his loving family at his home in Brownstown WA on May 13, 2015. He graduated the 8th grade from Bench School House and then went to work on the farm. He attended mechanic school and diesel school in Portland Or. He enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and was stationed at Astoria OR when the bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred. His first wife, Barbara, died of an illness while stationed there. John advanced to Chief Machinist Mate on the USS Admiral Benson and was honorably discharged after 4 ½ years. After the war he came home to Brownstown to work the family farm with his father and brothers.
John married his current wife, Vera Bukan, in 1953 at the First Presbyterian Church of Yakima. His hobbies included being a charter member of the Central WA Antique Farm Equip. Club and Engineers club. He played the musical saw and harmonica and enjoyed performing magic tricks. He was on the board of directors for Union Gospel Mission 1953-2003, was very active Farm Bureau Member since 1951, and volunteered as a fire fighter in Brownstown. He was a founding member of the Harrah Community Church and was Sunday School Supt for 30 years. John was given an everyday hero award, was 2012 Grand Marshall of the Harrah Fall Festival with wife Vera and received many community service awards including Red Cross 10 gallon club (gave 11.75 gallons in lifetime). He was not much for traveling, but did visit the Netherlands and always enjoyed traveling to his Naval Ship Reunions. He also very much enjoyed the annual family reunions in Sunnyside. John was a top notch hard working farmer who plowed the straightest furrow and made neatest haystack. In the early days tilling the land with a team of horses. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ, his family, and his church family at Harrah Community Church. His favorite scripture was the 23rd Psalm. He was a man of quiet strength with a great sense of humor, always leading by example.
He is survived by his wife Vera; sons Phil (wife Bobbie), Tim and Dan; daughter Manya (husband Jeff); and very special daughters-in-law Donna, Carrie and Rebecca; brothers Carl and William; sister Dorothy Redfield; grandsons Derek, Brad, Brent, Travis, Tanner and Taylor; and a great grandson Landon. John was preceded in death by first wife Barbara; father William and mother Necia; older brother Garrett; and younger siblings Tony, Garrett, Paul, Phoebe and Connie.
A Funeral Service will be held at Harrah Grace Brethren Church on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., with burial to follow at Reservation Community Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the Yakima Union Gospel Mission. Merritt Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
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