From Our Members

I came to the USA in 1963 as a single person. Then I became a member of the DIS right away. I was planning on coming for one year. I had to promise my mother to come back to the Netherlands after a year. A year later I went home with a DIS charter flight for six weeks. Then I came back to the States to stay. I had been advised originally to go as an immigrant. Then I had more options as far as work, etc.

A few years later I met my (American) husband who has passed away now. We always went to the Dutch Heritage Day in all the locations. Now I’m renewing my membership plus a gift for one year for my Dutch sister-in-law in Arizona and my daughter in California. I really like your new colorful magazine and all the stories.

Ria Medendorp Kalamazoo, Michigan

We have been members for a long time. Fondly remembering our trips to Holland via Grand Rapids/ Detroit KLM. Our meetings at a church, coffee time – such good times.

We moved to Goshen, Indiana in 1957, having family there who immigrated in 1952 and 1955. There are quite a few Hollanders in the Goshen and Elkhart area. So when we first moved to Goshen we would have a lovely lunch once a month at my Aunt Hennie‘s home with other Dutch immigrants.

Today 75 years ago was liberation day and Holland. We lived near NH Saint Martensvlotbrug. Dad worked at the creamery De Eensgesindheid. As a small girl the war left many memories, luckily we had food. I remember on May 5, 1945 English planes dropped a small parachutes with chocolate etc. in the farmers’ fields. We had a German army bunker in our backyard because the North Sea was only 1 km from our home - yes we were “occupied”.

So in honor of May 5, 1945 we are giving our son Rob a DIS membership. We have shared many stories about Holland with him and he is a real Dutch person, loves chocolate and coffee and is studying the Dutch “taal” on his computer via Babbel.

Thank you for our “lifeline” to our heritage, so glad you are keeping the DIS active and educational.

Marijanne Veenstra Rauch Hilton Rauch Shipshewana, Indiana

I cannot remember when I joined the, at the time, Dutch Immigrant Society. But it has been ages ago. I came to the USA in 1966. I married my GI (whom I met while he was stationed in Bitburg, GE). We lived the first two years in Rantoul, IL where he served at Chanute Air Force Base. In 1970 we moved to the Minneapolis area where I soon after met a Dutch couple. I assume they introduced me to DIS. At that time someone from Grand Rapids would come out occasionally for a movie night in downtown Minneapolis. So I have been a longtime member - around 50 years, I suppose.

Even though I have long been an American citizen, I still find Dutch news interesting. My husband and I traveled (he passed away last year) often to Europe and other places. I still correspond in Dutch with several Dutch friends (one a classmate from the HBS) and in the winter we usually traveled to Torremolinos where I speak a lot of Dutch.

Wallina Dibble Osseo, Minnesota

t Helmus