Jan Spits Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Jan Willem Spits, 90 of St. Albans passed away peacefully April 8, 2011 following a short illness. Jan was born to Barend Spits and Jansje Spits Servaas on July 6, 1920 in Zaandam, Holland. Preceding him in death were his parents, sister, Johanna Barendina Spits Huitema and brother, Willem Jan Spits. Jan graduated from Hoogery Burger School and majored in accounting and language. He spoke four languages, his native Dutch, German, French and English. Jan?s first employment in Holland was with Pieter Schoen Company which exported paints around the world. In September of 1939, Jan was drafted into the Dutch Army as a private. He served in the Coast Artillery until Germany invaded Holland in May of 1940. He spent the rest of the war years in Zaandam under Nazi occupation, enduring many hardships until the war ended in May of 1945. In July of 1945, Jan joined the United Nations Refugee and Rehabilitation Administration (UNNRA). In 1946 he was assigned to Hoechst, Germany where he met his future wife, Patricia Jane Seese, an Army WAC veteran stationed in Europe during WWII and who was then working for the US Army Post Exchange. Jan and Pat were married in Zaandam on February 23, 1947. In September of 1947 they moved to Spokane, WA where Jan started working for the Washington Water Power (now Avista Corp.) Jan was very proud to become a naturalized American Citizen in May of 1953. He worked for WWP for 32 years and developed the first computerized inventory system for the utility company. He retired as assistant treasurer in 1982 after 32 years of service. In 1982, Jan and Pat moved to West Virginia to be near family. After settling in St. Albans, Jan soon became involved in real estate appraising and also worked as an accountant at McCracken Construction and Brown Electric Co. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Patricia; daughter Johanna McCracken and husband, Edward of St. Albans; granddaughter Shannon Roberts and husband Jay of Scott Depot; grandson, Vance McCracken of Hurricane; great-grandson, Alex Robers and great-granddaughter, Caitlin Roberts. A private family burial service will be held Monday April 11, 2011 at Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 6-8pm Sunday April 10, 2011 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans. Visit www.bartlettchapmanfuneralhomes.com to share memories or to express condolences.