Engbert Jonge

KIEWIET DE JONGE, ENGBERT JAN COEN Funeral Mass is scheduled for 12:10 pm, Monday, October 25, 2010 at Assumption Catholic Church, for Engbert Jan Coen Conrad Kiewiet de Jonge, age 89, who passed away October 17, 2010 in Alameda, California. Fr. Bill McCann with Assumption Catholic Church will officiate.

Conrad was born November 3, 1920 in Leiden, the Netherlands, to Albert and Anna Maria Kiewiet de Jonge. He was a long time resident of Roswell, having met his wife, Benita Maria Kiewiet de Jonge ne Duran there in 1959. Benita preceded him in death.

Conrad spent his early years in the Netherlands with his parents, older brother Joost, and younger sister Wendela, all of whom have preceded him in death. The family moved to Switzerland in 1929 where his father had a psychiatric clinic. His mother died there in 1937, and his father remarried in 1938. Conrad was grateful for the guiding force of his stepmother, Yvette, whom he loved very much and who also preceded him in death.

Conrad attended the College de Nyon, then was accepted to Clark University in Massachusetts to study geography in 1939. He was a student there when World War II broke out, and voluntarily put his studies on hold to enlist in the Dutch Army Air Force. In 1941 he trained in Stratford, Ontario, Canada and was subsequently deployed to Kalidjati, Indonesia then a Dutch colony. His training group fled to Adelaide, Australia as Indonesia fell to Japanese forces, then continued their flight training in the United States, first in Midland, Texas and later in Jackson, Mississippi. Conrad was awarded his wings and became a B25 bomber pilot in 1943, returning to Batchelor, Australia. He flew some 40 missions with the 18th Squadron, then was attached to the USAF 5th squadron as a C47 copilot doing transport missions out of New Guinea, He returned to Balikpapan, Indonesia in 1945 before ultimately being demobilized in 1946, after some 2000 flight hours. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1949 for his service during the war.

After he was decommissioned, Conrad returned to his studies. He spent academic year 4849 at the Universit de Paris in France before he returned to Massachusetts and completed his studies. He was granted a Ph.D. in Geography by Clark University in 1951 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Shortly thereafter he accepted a job as a photogeologist with the Exploration department of Shell Oil Company. He was stationed as an expatriate in their employ in Venezuela until 1959, when he was transferred to Roswell. It was while working for Shell Oil that he met his wife Benita through the Legion of Mary.

Having found his love, Conrad declined to move again for Shell and resigned from the company in 1962. He and Benita were married at St. Peters Church in Roswell in August of that year. They moved to Santa Fe in 1963, where he taught briefly at St. Michaels College, before he was granted a tenuretrack position at what would become San Diego State University and they moved to California. 1964 saw the birth of their daughter, Annette, after which he was naturalized as a citizen of the United States of America in 1965. He settled down as a resident of San Diego, though he traveled frequently back to Europe during summer breaks. He spent a sabbatical at the Universit de Strasbourg in France in 7374, during which time Annette and Benita lived in Madrid, Spain, so as not to be too far away. He and Benita suffered through Annettes teenage years and many raucous slumber parties with good grace Conrad is fondly remembered by Annettes high school friends as the dad who would get up and dance with them. When Annette spent an academic year in Taiwan, R.O.C. in 8485, he visited and they traveled throughout Asia together, including a trip to Indonesia where he had been stationed during the war. The following year saw Annette living in Paris, France, and again they traveled extensively through Europe together, as well as to South Africa to visit relatives.

Conrad retired as a full professor in 1990, after 27 years of teaching geography. He and Benita then returned to Roswell, where he continued to live even after her death in 1998 and where he was a member of Assumption Catholic Church. He moved to Alameda, California only in January of this year, in order to be closer to his surviving family: daughter Annette Kiewietdejonge, soninlaw Edward Kenna, and granddaughter Kenna Marika Kiewietdejonge. He enjoyed what he called the European feel of Alameda, the friendliness of the people, taking his two poodles for walks by the beach, and getting to know his six yearold granddaughter better. He was taken from them all too soon. He is also survived by his nephew Niels Kiewiet de Jonge and wife Barbara of Farmville, VA, and their three sons Erik, Chad, and Karl.

Friends may pay respects online at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

Arrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Flowers are gratefully accepted alternatively, donations may be made to the childrens charity of your choice.

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