Rise to Shine

"I was born during WWII. The Japanese took everything. I grew up in a one-room Model-T garage with a dirt floor. The snakes would come in when it rained. When we had rice to boil, mice would dance around the pot as hungry as me. Before going to bed, I used crushed brick as toothpaste with some water and my finger as a brush. We didn't know it'd ruin our teeth. A well outside filled with baby mosquitos was my shower. My arms and legs had sores that needed to be regularly cut off with a knife. Thank God on your knees you live in America!"

— Hans van Blyenburgh

Born on 26 January 1942 in the Dutch East Indies (East Java, Indonesia) to family wealth dating back to the 1600's, Hans Edward van Blyenburgh, would experience none of it. Because his Dutch father married a native Indonesian, they were ostracized by colonial Dutch and Indonesians alike. WWII followed by the Indonesian National Revolution would further assure him a life of poverty.

The moment he looked into the loving arms of his mother who contracted tuberculosis during WWII, he would learn to overcome the struggle of survival. At age five, his mind too young to grasp the reality of the situation, he chased his little sister around the hospital bed where his mother lay taking her final breath. The second youngest of seven, he chose to live with his dad while his sisters lived with the nuns at an orphanage. He spent his time drawing on the walls of his dwelling place, as paper was not available.

He would travel one and a half hours by train each way for grade school. One time, losing his train pass at age 10, he cleverly strategized a way to get onboard for three weeks undetected by the security guards, ticket agents, and the military police. Watching keenly for the conductor to be done with one passenger railcar, he would jump from one railcar to the next until he found himself in the same coach as the conductor. He looked around with nowhere to go, stepped outside of the railcar and clung onto the handrails close to the tracks of the moving train! He shut his eyes as hard flecks of coal battered against his skin on every part of his body. Fearing he would end up like the woman on the tracks who "lost her grip", he frantically recited a thousand Hail Mary's until he reached his final destination.

Finally, an opportunity for a better life arrived at age 14. Together with his family by oceanic journey, they fled to The Netherlands exercising their Dutch citizenship. On board the ship, he turned on the faucet. He stood still, taking a deep breath before putting out his hand under running water expecting worms, parasites, and maggots. He stepped back in disbelief. Slowly, he looked closer to inspect the drops. Could it be? He excitedly grabbed his washcloth ready to experience his first shower with clean water!

At age 17, one year shy of legal age, he got his father's sign-off to enlist in the Dutch merchant marines. He learned the art of being a deckhand onboard the "Groote Beer". Heading for the shores of New York on one particular day, he made a bathroom excuse to his higher rank so he could escape to the main deck. He stood in awe as he gazed upon Lady Liberty and all she stood for. A swelling of belonging stirred inside him, and he knew the journey to his forever home would be the red, white, and blue.

In 1962, at age 20, Hans obtained U.S. citizenship under the GI Bill with the promise that he would serve in the military as a Vietnam volunteer. However, he was never called. While he waited, he painted and sold his art for two years while establishing himself as a local resident ( Sycamore Tribune, 17 May 1963 ). After saving up enough money, he asked for Gaby's hand in marriage who was living in The Netherlands. She said, "Yes." They immediately began their new life together on U.S. soil in 1964. Hans worked at the Ideal factory, Gaby as an obstetrics nurse at Sycamore Hospital. Within the next few years, they welcomed their first two children, Arma and Carla.

In his 30's, he obtained his Associates Degree at Kishwaukee College and B.A. in Architecture from The University of Illinois, Chicago (Circle Campus)—all the while working at the factory. Around this time, Hans and Gaby had two more children, Theodore and Natasha. Eventually, Hans worked for many different architectural firms mostly in and around Chicago and once in Michigan.

Always an out-of-the-box thinker, Hans creatively pursued entrepreneurial projects from his late 40's to the end of his life.

First, he bought a large tract of farmland in Sycamore and developed a subdivision called "Gabriel Estates" naming one of its streets "Gaby Drive" after his wife. Then, he bought a plot of land in Poulsbo, Washington, to develop. From there, he'd go on to invent consumer goods, register patents, and become a writer. In the 1990's, he authored the book, Rise to Shine about living the American Dream. Later in life, he wrote and illustrated his unpublished memoirs.

Encouraged by Gaby, Hans took his family on cross country road trips to pass down the appreciation of America's natural beauty. His children always looked forward to the next summer vacation. He captured every family moment with photography and VHS recording. Chief Blackhawk in Oregon, Illinois, was the first monument he showed Gaby in 1964 and the last monument he visited in 2024. When he wasn't traveling, he loved participating in the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival crafting many elaborate displays as a solo artist, with his children, and many grandchildren.

Above all earthly endeavors, Hans put God first. For 57 years, Hans was an active parishioner at St. Mary's in Sycamore. Annually, he and Gaby collected money in baby bottles for crisis pregnancies. Towards the end of his life, he dedicated his physical efforts towards enhancing the beauty of the Mother Mary garden next to church.

On 1 July 2024 at 82 years of age, Hans passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife, four children, his brother and three sisters. He fiercely loved his family, especially all ten of his grandchildren. He hoped to hold his first great grandchild due in August.

Join us for a celebration of life:

Tuesday, 23 July 2024

St. Mary's Catholic Church

244 Waterman St

Sycamore, IL 60178

Visitation 9:30-10:30 AM

Requiem Mass 11:00-12:00 PM

Luncheon 12:30-2:30 PM

As a tribute to Hans' deep love of the USA, red, white, or blue is welcomed attire.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the We Care Pregnancy Clinic in DeKalb, Illinois.

To sign the online guest book or share a special memory- go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com