Edward "Dutch" Willis Van Ess

Dutch was born on August 30, 1932, in Phoenix, the son of Henry and Sarah "Sally" Tharp Van Ess. He was their only boy, growing up with both an older and a younger sister. After graduation from North High, Dutch joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in Mississippi and Japan, and managing officers' clubs during the Korean Conflict. He was awarded the Good Conduct medal and the National Defense Service medal.

After his military service, Dutch joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), where he "turned out" as a second-generation electrician, like his father. In 64 years of Union membership, Dutch was president of the IBEW for 11 years and served on the executive board for another six years, traveling all over the country to meetings and conferences. He was an enthusiastic Union supporter.

Dutch met Eva Preston on a blind date in 1971, and they married on December 28, 1973. They had been married before, so they raised their blended family of 5 children together. Dutch claimed them all as his own and delighted in the births of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dutch developed special skills for the hobbies he enjoyed. While working out of town in Page, he learned silversmithing from a fellow electrician. He made rings and bolo ties in silver and turquoise for gifts to the family. He taught himself cabinet making and made tables and dressers, shelves, and bookcases in wood, all precisely fitted and finished silky smooth. A fine craftsman, Dutch enjoyed the creation process as much as the end product.

Besides the IBEW and Elks, he was an active member of the Larkspur Christian church, where his skills were valued in repairing and maintaining the church property. He attended Sunday services faithfully with his wife every week. In addition, he cooked for innumerable pancake breakfasts and was a Deacon for decades.

Dutch explored his ancestry through family history research, highlighted by a visit to the Hague in the Netherlands. Even after his retirement, he remained active in the building trades when he added an apartment to his home for his mother-in-law, doing much of the work himself. This combined his skills with his family values. He assumed caretaking duties gladly when Mary Tipton became infirm.

Dutch was a caring, generous man. "Made in America" was his abiding mantra. The family was his priority.

Dutch was predeceased by his parents, his son Steven and his older sister, Lucille Decker.

He is survived by his wife, Eva Van Ess; daughters Jami Van Ess, Megan Walker, and Vickie Kohles; son David Van Ess; sister Kay Knight; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, November 18, at Memorial Chapel, Phoenix Memorial Park Mortuary, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Internment Service and Military Honors will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com for the Van Ess family.