Jack (Koos) Jonas

Jack (Koos) Jonas
6/11/1931-12/4/2012

Jack (Jacobus Koos) was born June 11, 1931 in The Hague, the Netherlands to Jacobus (Koos) Jonas and Hendrika (Henny) Neevens-Jonas.
Jack was a botanist. He graduated in 1952 from the School of Botanica, Tropical Department, in the Netherlands. He also studied at the Versailles Gardens in Paris, France. After graduating in 1952 at age 20, he left Holland for a sugar plantation, Djati Barang, on the island of Java, Dutch East Indies.
While working at Djati Barang, Jack met his future wife, Mary (Rietje) Ladage. They were married in Dec. 1953. Jack and Mary were married almost 59 years.
Their daughter, Marianne Jonas (deceased) was born Feb. 14, 1955. After the Dutch East Indies became independent, they were forced to leave Indonesia in 1957. Their son, Jacques Jonas, was born Aug. 23, 1958, while they lived in Heer Hugowaard, the Netherlands.
In 1960, Jack emigrated to California with his family and lived in Pasadena and Altadena before finally settling in Costa Mesa, where he lived for 50 years.
Jack was an accomplished horticulturist. He worked as a landscaper and later operated his own nursery in Costa Mesa. He loved growing plants and sharing his knowledge with others, including both of his children. Jack also worked at the Costa Mesa High School Farm and the Betty Clooney Foundation in Long Beach.
Jack is survived by his wife Mary Jonas, son Jacques Jonas (Elizabeth Jonas), sister Nini Jonas Rietema (Simon Peter Rietema), granddaughters Jennifer Clements (John Paul Clements), Karen Jonas and Amy Jonas, along with his two cherished grandchildren, Sydney and Johnny. Jack is also survived by extended family, both in California and Holland.