Verstappen 60th

VERSTAPPEN 60th

Joe and Elizabeth Verstappen celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 20, 2014, with a reception at Grants Pass Church Better Living Center.

Joe Verstappen and Elizabeth Kerens were born in the Netherlands and lived through Nazi occupation during World War ll. Joe became an apprentice tailor at the age of 14. In the early 1950s, they each immigrated to Canada for a better life and met each other there at Joe's sister's Christmas party in 1953. They were married on Sept. 18, 1954, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. 

Joe continued the tailoring business in several different locations in Ontario, while Elizabeth was raising two daughters. They loved it there, but Joe's friend convinced him that California was the place to be. After a winter visit, going from -30 degrees to 70 degrees, he decided to move the family to Southern California, where they lived for 10 years. Joe did landscape maintenance and opened his own tailor shop. 

In 1970, the family moved to Grants Pass, Ore., having had enough of the big city. Soon after opening his tailor shop there, a former pastor visited his shop and Joe began Bible studies. The whole family joined the church in 1972. 

Elizabeth worked 18 years as food service manager for the county schools in Grants Pass. She still bakes bread today, with proceeds going to Maranatha projects around the world. Joe recently retired from tailoring. They both love gardening, helping at the Grants Pass Community Services (formerly Dorcas) and enjoying visits with family and friends.

The Verstappen family includes Geri and Bob Wytcherley of Milwaukie, Ore.; Rosanne and Peter Wehrens of the Netherlands; 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.