Kees de Rijk


Kees de Rijk was the son of Hermanus (Montje) de Rijk and Hanne van Beers. They lived Oude Maasdijk 38 (formerly number 231).
 
He was born March 1, 1924. As a young boy he helped his father making wooden shoes. From 1944 tot 1945 he was ordered to work in Germany. Afterwards he had difficulties in returning back to normal life.
 

25 years marriage of Montje de Rijk and Hanne van  Beers; seated left Riek, seated right Henk; standing L-R: Tonny, Kees, Theo, Riek and Johan.
   
January1948 Johan de Rijk left for the Dutch East Indies. This picture was taken at Oude Maasdijk 231; L-R: father Montje de Rijk, Johan, mother Hanne, Tonny, Nelly, Tineke de Vree, Henk, Theo, Riek Schoots, (later on she married Johan), Kees.
   
October 1950 Kees decided to emigrate to Minnesota (USA). He lived with his uncle Jan van Beers. Uncle Jan emigrated to the USA in 1920 and lived in Rochester. Cees stayed with him for about ten years. Very soon people called him "Casey".
 

Jan van Beers, his wife and Kees de Rijk (right) in America;

Kees de Rijk right and his nephew Piet van Beers

   
In 1957 Cees married Patricia.  Because of his health he moved to San Francisco, California.
 
In Californië he worked as an electrician. He had nine employees and worked at some big buildings and bridges, such as Berkeley University and Bay Bridge in San Francisco.

Casey and his wife Pat had six children and lived in San Lorenzo, a town near San Francisco. He was an active member of "Knight's of Columbus, "St. John's Church" and the "Each Bay Holland Club".

 

Bay Bridge, San Francisco

 
He returned to Holland a couple of times. At the end of his life he suffered from health problems. He passed away aged 76 November 10, 2000.
 

Any additional information is welcome!