Jeanneke Van Hattem was born in Nijmegen, the Netherlands on July 15, 1942 and grew up with her mother Adriana Maria (née Manche) and her father Dries van Hattem. Early years were spent with her brother Gerry and sister Annelies. It was a warm family and they looked forward to holidays camping in the North Sea dunes. Jeanneke struggled to conform as a teenager - fiercely independent, restless, and confident - she was a free spirit who always chose her own path in life.
After high school she studied at the Arnhem Art Academy, flourishing with her new freedom. During that time she met Adriaan, a fellow field hockey player, and at 21 was married on a Friday in July. The next Monday they left by boat for Canada to begin a new adventure. They had two kids, Bart and Pamela, who remained a focus in her life after she struck out on her own.
After traveling for a while she moved to Thunder Bay with her partner Marty where she took to the culture immediately. With her trademark greeting of ‘Ya hi’ she made good friends and became an honorary Northwesterner. Jeanneke met people easily which was a strong suit her whole life. When you first met her, she would ask a few direct questions (often controversial) and sweep you into a conversation to explore how you really felt.
Being an art teacher in the North spurred her return to Toronto to finish her art degree at OCAD. She became totally immersed in her work: sculpting, painting, and opening Atelier Jeanneke where she would invite friends to hang out and talk late into the night listening to Moe Koffman.
It was tough for a new artist, and so Jeanneke left Toronto to take a job as Art director with Alberta Report magazine in Edmonton. She used her creative energy each week to brainstorm, compose, and shoot a cover photo to support the lead story. From Wayne Gretsky’s rise to the tornado of 1987, she became an Albertan and mentored a young team of artists.
After leaving Alberta Report, Jeanneke joined WestMount Press as the Publisher of the Squamish Chief. She had endless energy and was a compassionate manager who instinctively understood how to bring out the best in people. With her background in art and design she excelled at introducing new ideas for publishing projects and developing new business. After receiving advanced management training in Banff, she assumed responsibility for five papers in the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Sunshine Coast and was one of WestMount’s most valued employees during her tenure.
In 1998 Jeanneke left BC and returned to Ontario to be closer to her family, eventually buying Focus 50+ newspaper in Barrie. With a small, dedicated team they were successful against the tide of digital media. At Christmas each year she welcomed her grandkids Kayman, Jack, Jacqueline, and Dan to try a wild new food item and gifts wrapped in purple. She supported their endeavors and those of her nephews Paul, Sander and Robert Dries. Her first neighbor in Barrie was Heather, a young mother with three small boys who drove her crazy. ‘Oma J’, as they later called her, became a good friend. A few years later when the boys were 7-10 years old, she looked after them for a weekend and taught them to play poker.
Jeanneke returned to her passions – gardening in the warm sunshine and painting a series based on her research of neurons and the brain. Then in the evening inviting friends over to drink red wine and debate science and politics.
In December 2022 she had an operation that was unsuccessful and, given the option of another one, said no thanks. A few days later she died at 80 years.
A Celebration of Life will be held upstairs at Michael and Marion’s in Barrie, Friday January 20 from 1 - 4pm. There will be an option to join via Zoom at 2 pm.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88146108059?pwd=RnBNeG5vbjkxOStZV2RJVFRJSVduQT09
A Celebration of Life will be held upstairs at Michael and Marion’s in Barrie, Friday January 20 from 1 - 4pm.
Memorial donations can be made to the Ontario College of Art and Design https://secure3.convio.net/ocadu/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30132a?df_id=1980&mfc_pref=T&1980.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=2E84D64643F79CCED9AC44A5B88F2580
Arrangements entrusted to Aftercare Cremation & Burial Service