"I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Jay. I had the pleasure of knowing Jay and Charlene during their winters in AZ and always looked forward to their visit. This is the time of year when I always started thinking about them and we would normally catch up. Jay was very kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. He always brought a little extra sunlight into my day. A little story that reminds me of Jay: when my son was a baby, he bit everyone at daycare. I told Jay, and he reassured me that his very successful and intelligent grandson, of whom he was extremely proud, was also the daycare biter and went on to excel in the military and be a top notch member of society. :) We would laugh about that for years afterward. Just as Jay predicted, my son, the former daycare biter, is doing very well. Rest In Peace, Jay. I'm sure you are playing golf right now. You will be missed."
In loving memory of
Jay Van Oort
June 12, 1933 - September 16, 2017
Funeral services for Jay W. Van Oort, 84 of Rochester will be at 11:00am on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Salem Road Covenant Church. Visitation will be from 4:30-7:30pm on Friday, September 22, 2017 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and also one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Oakwood East Cemetery.
Jay William Van Oort was born on June 12, 1933 in Orange City, Iowa to Albert and Antoinette (Rozeboom) Van Oort. He died on September 16, 2017 at his home. Jay graduated from Orange City High School and Northwestern. On August 22, 1953 he married Charlene Wirsing and the couple lived in Iowa and Washington before moving to Rochester in 1959. Jay was a veteran of the United States Army serving from 1955-1957. He received his Master's degree in education from Winona State University in 1965. He also became a life member of NEA. Jay taught sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary School for 36 years. He was president of REA as well as part of the newly created negotiations team on wages. This lead to his service in MEA as a field staff member. He played trumpet in the Notochords, a local amateur jazz group. He volunteered as a youth football coach for his sons' team. He was a certified ski instructor at Welch Village, MN for over 20 years. He was always very active in all of his kids' activities. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed camping during his 20+ years of retirement.
Survivors include two sons, Steve (Sue) Van Oort and Craig (Carol) Van Oort, both of Rochester; one daughter, Karen (Calvin) Hicks of Omaha, Nebraska; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife, Charlene, one brother, Bruzz and two sisters, Ruth and Marna.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Mayo Clinic Hospice.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600
www.ranfranzandvinefh.com
Tributes
"Steve and Craig...my sympathy to you on your father's death...I just learned of it...and I missed your mother's death. I live in Florida now. John Whelan"
"What a delightful man your father was. He and Char would stop at Hunt's and the first place he would come was the corner with the Dept.56 buildings. The day he bought the Dairy Queen to give to Char for Christmas because that was where they met, I just knew he was a great man. I will miss his friendly face, his Christian philosophy and both he and Char. You are very lucky to have had them for parents. Linda Mash @ Hunt Silver Lake Drug"