Mount Pleasant – Jan Gerdinus Hoogenhout, age 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the unending love of family, Tuesday morning, May 26, 2026.
Jan was born on May 11, 1937, in Utrecht, Holland, to the late Jan and Aartje Hilliegonda (nee Vannameren) Hoogenhout. Elizabeth was born in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, in the South Pacific on September 16, 1935, to the late Viliami and Nanisi (nee Jameson) Helu. Years later, Jan & Elizabeth met in Tasmania, Australia, and were united in marriage on February 7, 1959. They shared 61 glorious years of love together…. before Elizabeth passed away on May 18, 2020.
Jan had a passion for baking & cooking, with Elizabeth being the master cake decorator. They owned & operated various bakeries throughout the world. In recent years, Elizabeth & Jan (who are Canadian residents) retired to Tonga, spending 6 months of the year in Tonga with their son Chris, and 6 months between their other two children’s residences in the US. Above all, family was Jan & Elizabeth’s everything!
Surviving Jan are his son, William (Jayme) Hoogenhout of Jasper, AL; and Corine (fiancé, Tim Krenzke) DeGroot of Mount Pleasant, WI; his beautiful granddaughters, Jordan Hoogenhout and Tiah (Jordan) Lee; great-grandson, Nakoa Bane; great-granddaughter, Rava Kaia; step grandsons, Andrew DeGroot and Jacob (Zorica) DeGroot; step great-granddaughters, Ema & Mila DeGroot; and many other dear relatives worldwide from the USA, Australia, New Zealand & Tonga – too numerous to mention all by name.
In addition to his parents and wife, Jan was preceded in death by his beloved son, Christopher Hoogenhout, just 3 days prior to his own passing – May 23, 2026.
Private family services and interment will take place in the South Pacific Island of Tonga.
