OTTEN, Nicolaas (Jack)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, January 27, 2011 Nicolaas "Jack" Otten, 88, of Prescott Valley, Ariz., born Oct. 5, 1922, in the Netherlands, passed away Jan. 27, 2011. A private cremation will be at Bradshaw Chapel in Prescott Valley, Ariz. A celebration of life will be at a later date. Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel assisted the family with funeral arrangements. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, February 05, 2011 Nicolaas Jozef Jacobus Otten ("Jack"), born Oct. 5, 1922, in Kerkrade, Netherlands (Holland), the youngest of four boys and a girl born to Jacob Robert Otten and Maria A. Alberts Otten, devout Catholics. Jack lived a colorful life. During WWII, he and his brothers worked in the Dutch Underground following Hitler's invasion in May 1940. Jack had previously seen Hitler up close, and many times since said, "I should've shot the bastard." Among other assignments after Jack joined the Royal Dutch Army, he was loaned to the U.S. Army as a translator of German for General George Patton. After the war, Jack was transferred to the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) as procurement officer in the Dutch Armored Brigade "Regiment Huzaren van Boreel," which was fighting to keep it a Dutch Colony. He also served as interrogator of enemy guerillas by translating their Malayan and Javanese languages. Once an army buddy did not return to camp; Jack found him dead in the jungle, his body cut into three pieces by a booby trap. In 1949, Sukarno's communist regime kicked out the Dutch, seizing Indonesia. As a civilian, in 1950 Jack migrated to Australia with only 50 pounds Sterling. With his exceptional work ethic and vital personality, he carved out a good life in a small "outback" township and, after various endeavors, became proprietor of a successful restaurant. Also, Jack served as translator for local courts. In 1957, Jack brought from Holland Adriana Smeelen to be his bride. They were blessed with a daughter, Yvonne, and son Robbie. Australia's economy became depressed. So Jack packed up his young family and migrated in 1961 to California, U.S.A. - "The Land of Opportunity, where anyone willing to work, can make a good living," he often said. Working and saving, Jack was soon proprietor of his own popular coffee shop restaurant in Whittier, Calif. His wife earned degrees and became a college professor. His son and daughter grew up living the "American Dream." But "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," they say. The marriage faded and Jack became single again. He joined H.O.P., a growing package manufacturing company, supervising up to 30 women on the line. Jack's "continental" manners and energetic ways brought him many friends at work, with neighbors and in worldwide places he traveled. In February 1980, Jack met D.J. Twyman, a divorcee with sons ages 12 and 15, in Corona. Their 22-year age difference, no matter. Most every weekend for four-plus years, Jack drove 30 miles to see D.J. Their four children and scores of friends celebrated at their wedding on July 21, 1984. Jack retired after 16 years at H.O.P. and turned a "side job" selling architectural supplies into a thriving venture. The summer of 1987 was devastating. Son Robbie, who had moved back to Australia at 18, was flown to a Sydney hospital. Jack flew there, joining Rob's "Mum" and sister. But doctors remained perplexed and, after three months, sent Rob home for God to take him at age 28, leaving wife Kim and two daughters, ages 2 years and only 3 months. All our hearts broke. Rob was Jesus' treasure! After one day visiting beautiful Prescott, Ariz., in 1989, the Ottens bought a house and shortly moved. One week per month, Jack served his California customers while acquiring every customer from here to Sedona with his excellent service, low prices and frank wit. D.J. was an office manager/bookkeeper, then attended Yavapai College. Jack stood proud as she received her AA degree. The Ottens traveled to Mexico, seven European countries, Australia, New Zealand and other islands. In 1996, D.J. had cancer. D.J. recovered, but eventually the marriage did not. After the divorce, they lived apart, always friends. When Jack had a heart attack, D.J. moved in to care for him. In February 2001, Jack sent D.J. with Calvary tour to Israel, when she met Don Williams. They married five months later, with Jack walking D.J. down the isle. They lived close and, after Jack's C.O.P.D. worsened to the point he could not live alone, Don invited him to live with them in Prescott Valley. The three lived content for four years. Don and D.J. took Jack along RV camping, driving to California relatives, Sundays to church, even a trip to Holland using a wheelchair and oxygen for Jack's Indonesia Regiment Boreel reunion. Observing Don's Christian example, Jack's spirit was moved. At 85, Jack carried an O2 tank and pushed his walker up our church isle to confess Jesus as his Savior and request baptism. Pastor Berna needed help to raise him up, so Don was in the water to lift Jack. His health declined badly; Jack knew it best he be in a nursing home. D.J. and/or Don visited five to six days a week. Jack often expressed appreciation of Don and D.J. For three years, Santa Fe House took exceptional care of Jack, then with cancer. Daughter and husband, D.J and Don attended Jack's bedside prior to him being healed into heaven on Jan. 27, 2011. In March or April, there will be a memorial service for Jack at Bethel Baptist Church, Prescott Valley, Ariz. Later, Jack's ashes will be sprinkled around the old castle in Kerkrade, where he played as a child. Jack Otten is survived by daughter Yvonne Rodriguez of California; granddaughters Opal and Leah in Australia; stepgranddaughters Alyssa, Fallon, Natalie and Jennifer of California; and nephews and nieces Jules, Chock, Jose, Jos and MarieJose in Holland. Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel assisted the family with the arrangements. Please sign Jack's online guestbook at www.ruffnerwakelin.com. Information provided by survivors.