Evert Antonius "Dutch" Raaphorst

Evert "Dutch" Raaphorst, 84, passed away at his residence, on November 10, 2016, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer, he was called Home while holding his wife Ann’s hand. He will be greatly missed.

Evert was born on December 27, 1931 in Batudjadjar, Indonesia to Cornelis and Everdina Raaphorst, younger brother to Johannes and Cornelis. After spending 14 years in Indonesia, his family repatriated to the Hague, Netherlands. He graduated first in his class from the College of Aviation. He served in the Royal Dutch Air Force and worked for KLM Airlines.

Evert married Johanna (Ann) van Leeuwen in 1958. After having their first child, Karin, they immigrated to the United States, settling in New Orleans, Louisiana. They had 4 more children, Ronald, Audrey, Brenda, and Anita.

He worked as a mechanic for TACA International Airlines, retiring as Lead Mechanic in 1994. His love of aviation and strong work ethic led him to continue to work with ground services at New Orleans International Airport until Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

He moved to Keller, Texas after the hurricane. He was an active member of the Keller Senior Center as well as a volunteer for the Friends of the Keller Library Bookstore.
Throughout his life, he loved reading, aviation, photography, music, woodworking, and vegetable gardening. He enjoyed “getting the whole gang together”, spending time at the Keller Senior Center, and watching soccer with his beloved cat, Dixie, on his lap.

Affectionately known as Opa, he loved spending time with his grandchildren Katie, Monica, Erica, Jeffrey, Abbey, Ava, Emma, and Sarah: step-grandchildren Loren, Victoria, and Erin: and great-grandchildren Eric, Lily, Macy, Caroline, Joey, Cami, Noah, and Benji. He was always at school events, sporting events, choir concerts, school musicals and any other functions involving them.
He was very proud of his Dutch heritage but embraced his adopted country. In July of 2015, he was sworn in as a citizen of the United States and voted in his first presidential election.

Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Lucas Funeral Home in Keller with the family receiving friends after 1pm.

Survivors: Wife, Johanna; daughters, Karin Jenkins (Matt), Audrey Longuefosse (Brian), Brenda Grefer (Archie), Anita Brown (Jeff); son, Ronald Raaphorst (Robin); eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Lucas Funeral Home - Keller (817)753-6800