Jacobus Gorter

JACOBUS GORTER, 98, of Little Rock, Ark., died March 15, 2016. "Jack" was born to Gerrit Gorter and Antje Wortel on Oct. 1, 1917 in West Terschelling, Netherlands. He served with distinction as a ship's officer in the Dutch Merchant Marines, a vital supplier to the Allied Forces during WWII. He served on many ships during the war, including two that were sunk and a third ship badly damaged when it struck a mine. Most notably, Jacobus was 4th Engineer on a ship called the Sembilangan, which was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on March 13, 1943. Of the 87 crewmembers, Jacobus was the only survivor. Jack met his beloved wife, Faith, an American citizen born to missionary parents in India, after the war onboard a ship. Faith was returning to the US to attend college, and Jack was a ship's officer. They fell in love—a true shipboard romance. Jack died 67 years later holding hands with Faith, the love of his life. Jack became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1955. His life's work was in Engineering. He proudly worked for Collins Radio Company at the beginning of the NASA space exploration. He retired from Rockwell International, now Boeing, in 1984. Jack, a devout Christian, belonged to Trinity Presbyterian Church. He is now in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and his brave shipmates who have waited for so long to reunite with him and share stories of tall ships at sea. Jack is survived by Faith and their three children: Antje Harris, of Little Rock, Ark.; Gerrit Gorter (Kim) also of Little Rock; and Jane Manley, of Garland, Texas; four granddaughters: Dehra Glueck, Anna Gorter, Mary Gorter, and Lindsey Manley; and two greatgrandchildren: Jadyn Glueck and Gavin Glueck. Jacobus will be greatly missed by the Gorter family and friends, and he is honored on the island of Terschelling and throughout Holland and America, the countries he loved and served to protect. Visitation is Monday, March 21, 6-8 p.m., at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock. The funeral is Tuesday, March 22, 1:30 p.m., at Trinity Presbyterian Church on 4501 Rahling Rd, Little Rock, followed by burial at Forest Hills Cemetery, 10200 Highway 5 N, Alexander, Ark. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.