Obituary for Johanna C. Leskow
FISHKILL – Johanna C. Leskow, a longtime resident of Fishkill, NY passed away on December 14, 2018. She was 89.
Born in Amsterdam, Holland on January 7, 1929, she was the daughter of Henry and Tryntje (Katherine Van Hoften) Gilquin. In 1931, she and her mother made the arduous journey on the S.S. Statendam to the United States where they reunited with her father. Johanna grew up in Verbank and later moved to Fishkill, then Hopewell Junction, then back to Fishkill. She had a deep love of music and enjoyed playing the organ and the piano. Her devotion to knitting and crocheting came from her mother. Her mother learned knitting/crocheting following patterns not directions as her mother spoke very little English. Her mother made her and her children numerous sweaters, afghans, mittens, etc. Johanna made knitted slippers and lap blankets with a passion for the veterans at Castle Point VAMC and residents of Wingate at Dutchess.
Her love of shopping and being dressed fashionably along with her hair being fixed “just so” was a daily ritual for her.
Johanna had a deep love and respect for veterans from writing to them during the war to acknowledging them all the time. She generously donated to the Veterans and the World Wildlife Fund.
She enjoyed extensive traveling across the United States and much of Europe, in addition to going on many cruises. She shared her most memorable trip with her daughter Connie in May of 1985, just four months after the death of her own mother. They traveled back to Amsterdam, where her mother was from and Johanna was born, and Nijmegen, where her father was born, staying with family still living there.
Her love of animals as a small child and throughout her life was evident by her always having a pet by her side and she recently lost her companion Rosie, a Dutch bred dog. What surrounded her with much love and happiness was lots of flowers – especially tulips and the connection to her Dutch heritage.
Although her family was very small and she was an only child, the importance of family was a deep compassion of hers. She acquired many friends over the years that endured friendships her entire lifetime. Most recently, she cherished her loving relationship with her new friend, Suzette, who visited her and shared the love of old movies and music by the Dutch violinist, Andre Rieu.
Johanna is survived by her son, Bruce (Lisa) Dotterer of Ponder, TX, daughter, Connie Dotterer of Hopewell Jct., NY, and son Jon Leskow of Hopewell Jct., NY; her grandchildren, Rebecca (Anthony) Barnard of Alabama and Ray Dotterer of Washington; and great-grandchildren, Blake, Aaron, and Christian Barnard. She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Katherine Gilquin.
The family wishes to express their thanks for the compassion and dedicated care given to their mother from the doctors, nurses and staff at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Wingate at Dutchess.
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4 – 8 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30am at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Verbank Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 144, VAMC Castle Point Road, Castle Point, NY 12511 (www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/NY/144) or the World Wildlife Fund, PO Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180 (www.worldwildlife.org).
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Johanna’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
Born in Amsterdam, Holland on January 7, 1929, she was the daughter of Henry and Tryntje (Katherine Van Hoften) Gilquin. In 1931, she and her mother made the arduous journey on the S.S. Statendam to the United States where they reunited with her father. Johanna grew up in Verbank and later moved to Fishkill, then Hopewell Junction, then back to Fishkill. She had a deep love of music and enjoyed playing the organ and the piano. Her devotion to knitting and crocheting came from her mother. Her mother learned knitting/crocheting following patterns not directions as her mother spoke very little English. Her mother made her and her children numerous sweaters, afghans, mittens, etc. Johanna made knitted slippers and lap blankets with a passion for the veterans at Castle Point VAMC and residents of Wingate at Dutchess.
Her love of shopping and being dressed fashionably along with her hair being fixed “just so” was a daily ritual for her.
Johanna had a deep love and respect for veterans from writing to them during the war to acknowledging them all the time. She generously donated to the Veterans and the World Wildlife Fund.
She enjoyed extensive traveling across the United States and much of Europe, in addition to going on many cruises. She shared her most memorable trip with her daughter Connie in May of 1985, just four months after the death of her own mother. They traveled back to Amsterdam, where her mother was from and Johanna was born, and Nijmegen, where her father was born, staying with family still living there.
Her love of animals as a small child and throughout her life was evident by her always having a pet by her side and she recently lost her companion Rosie, a Dutch bred dog. What surrounded her with much love and happiness was lots of flowers – especially tulips and the connection to her Dutch heritage.
Although her family was very small and she was an only child, the importance of family was a deep compassion of hers. She acquired many friends over the years that endured friendships her entire lifetime. Most recently, she cherished her loving relationship with her new friend, Suzette, who visited her and shared the love of old movies and music by the Dutch violinist, Andre Rieu.
Johanna is survived by her son, Bruce (Lisa) Dotterer of Ponder, TX, daughter, Connie Dotterer of Hopewell Jct., NY, and son Jon Leskow of Hopewell Jct., NY; her grandchildren, Rebecca (Anthony) Barnard of Alabama and Ray Dotterer of Washington; and great-grandchildren, Blake, Aaron, and Christian Barnard. She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Katherine Gilquin.
The family wishes to express their thanks for the compassion and dedicated care given to their mother from the doctors, nurses and staff at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Wingate at Dutchess.
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4 – 8 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30am at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Verbank Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 144, VAMC Castle Point Road, Castle Point, NY 12511 (www.davmembersportal.org/chapters/NY/144) or the World Wildlife Fund, PO Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180 (www.worldwildlife.org).
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Johanna’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.