
Jan Hottinga
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Jan Hottinga, age 95, of Greenville, South Carolina passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Jan, the youngest of three children, was born to Antoon Hottinga and Jannetje Hottinga-Spaans on March 12, 1928 in the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
After having spent 2 1/2 years in Japanese concentration camps as a teen during the Second World War, Jan, his sister and his mother were evacuated to the Netherlands (Holland). His father and brother had not survived the concentration camps.
Following the completion of his education at Nijenrode University, Jan worked for two years with a multinational company in Rotterdam, which then assigned him to its subsidiary in Dusseldorf, Germany. There he met Ann Gustavs, who worked as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department. Jan and Ann were married in Rotterdam and they soon moved to the United States.
After having obtained a business degree from the University of Denver, Jan joined Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri in an international marketing position. After one year Monsanto moved Jan and Ann to New York City, where their daughter Janice was born in 1959. The family then resided in France, Switzerland and Belgium for five years before returning the United States to live again in St. Louis. There Jan entered the field of International Personnel Relations, specializing in International Employee Benefits. Following his 14 years with Monsanto, he joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA in 1972, continuing his career in International Employee Benefits in which he gained national and international recognition. The family lived in Pittsburgh for 20 years during which time they welcomed their granddaughter, Sara. When the time came to retire in 1992, Jan and Ann moved to Greenville, SC.
Jan and Ann were active in their church and community, enjoyed travel, reading and spending time with each other and friends. After Ann's passing in 2003, Jan continued to serve with their church, travel and spend time with friends and family. In 2010, Jan married Jenell Vassy of Greenville, SC. They traveled extensively and were also very active in their church and community.
Jan was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Hans, his sister Anneke and his first wife Ann.
Surviving Jan are his wife Jenell, his daughter Janice Apter (Dennis), his granddaughter Sara Setzenfand and very special friends Belinda (Al) Hrivnak and Judy (Steve) Hattersley.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 11 AM at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 1021 Hudson Road, Greenville, SC 29615.
The family respectfully requests no flowers. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the St. Giles Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Hottinga family.