Cornelius J. Venhuizen

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Cornelius “Neil” John Venhuizen born Kornelis “Kees” Jan Venhuizen of South Holland, IL, went home to his Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at age 91. Beloved husband of Joanne Venhuizen, nee Huisenga, and father of Bernard (Rosalinda) Venhuizen, Ruth (William) Martin, and Gayle (Dave) Beezhold. Proud grandfather/ opa of Cornelius (Lisa Brown) Venhuizen, Alison (Matthew) Carlassare, Melissa Martin, Joshua (Christina) Martin, Zachary Beezhold, and Jason (Rachel) Beezhold. Delighted great-grandfather of Annabelle Carlassare, Eloise Martin, Mason Carlassare, John Venhuizen, and Harrison Martin. A dear uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents Berend and Martje Venhuizen; his siblings Johanna (Hendrik) Folgers, Cornelia (Jakob) Eekhof, and Trijntje (Geert) Ritsema; and his grandchildren Albert Martin and Thomas Venhuizen.

Neil was born in Warffum, the Netherlands. His childhood was shaped by the Nazi occupation of his hometown. During the war, Neil and his family participated in the resistance. After the war, Neil worked on a farm to financially assist his family. He entered the Merchant Marines at age 18 and traveled extensively throughout all of Europe. Following his service, Neil immigrated to the United States of America, settling in Evergreen Park, Illinois, with the support of his aunt and uncle. By day he worked pouring concrete foundations and by night he learned English at Fenger High School. Not long after becoming a citizen, he was drafted into the the U.S. Army and served in Germany. Upon his return to Illinois, he rekindled a connection with Joanne Huisenga, and they married in 1960. Together they built a home in South Holland, IL, where they raised three kids, and then enjoyed eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

In all areas of life, Neil loved to learn, grow, and build community. Committed to construction, he took night classes at a community college to learn to read building blue prints; this allowed him to go from building concrete foundations to becoming a foreman on the John Hancock Building in Chicago. A talented musician, he was not only proficient at playing the trumpet and the bagpipes, but late in life he picked up almost every brass instrument, as well as the violin, clarinet, and piano. He shared his musical gifts through the Warffum Band, the South Holland Municipal Band, the South West Symphony Orchestra, the Do-It-Yourself Messiah, the Lansing Veteran Memorial Ceremonial Honor Guard, the Stock Yard Kilty Band, the South Suburban Jazz Society, and various church ensembles An active member of his community, he not only joined his family in the Dutch resistance, served in the Dutch Merchant Marines, and then the US Army, but he also volunteered with the US Naval Sea Cadets Great Lakes Division, the Corps Relief Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9964, Manteno Veterans Home, South Holland ESDA, Christ Caries Ministries, and he served as a deacon at Cottage Grove Christian Reformed Church. Committed to his family, he could be found framing his wife’s paintings, gardening with relatives, serenading his kids to sleep with his trumpet, and conscripting his grandchildren into trying on military uniforms and marching around the yard.

Even while bustling between work or music or family, he was always excited to sit down and have a cup of coffee, over which he’d happily share (in a captivating Dutch brogue) that all he had and all that he did was a gift from God.

You are welcome to join the family for a celebration of his life and a witness to the resurrection on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at Smits Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12pm until 3pm, and the funeral service will be at 3pm. A committal with honor guard will be held on Monday March 3 at 10:30 am at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Gifts can be made to Cottage Grove Christian Reformed Church.