Obituary of Jacob Martin Van Housen

Jacob Martin Van Housen, Jr., age 79, died Sunday, August 14, 2011 at Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pequannock Twsp. Mr. Van Housen was born September 6, 1931 in Paterson, the son of the late Jacob Martin and the late Eleanor Dorothy (Vreeland) Van Housen, Sr. He lived in Haledon. Jacob met, fell in love and married his lifelong soul mate Edith Lillian Patrick on Feb. 2, 1952. Thereafter, Jacob was drafted by the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea. During an incredible span of only 1 year Jacob went from Private 1st Class to Sergeant Major. Upon his release Jacob and Edith started a family with the birth of their first offspring, a daughter, Edith Eleanor Lydia "Dee" born in 1954. Their second daughter, Patricia Ann, arrived in 1960. Jacob and Edith were both extremely active in their community both joining the Haledon Fire Dept. Company No. 2; Haledon Ambulance Squad (Life member, First Aid Instructor, Chief of Corps.) Member of Gold Cross; Marshal for the Haledon Police Dept.; American Red Cross; The Medic Alert Foundation; The Optimist Club; The Haledon PAL; Refreshment Service volunteer for the Ocean Grove Great Auditorium Refreshment Service; American Legion Post 227 (Serving as both Post and County Commander); Member of the 40 & 8 veterans Organization; Wayne, Clifton and Neptune Seniors and an Ocean Grove Great Auditorium Usher. Jacob and Edith were tenters during the summer in Ocean Grove New Jersey for forty-one years. Jacob worked as a New Jersey Transit Bus driver for 38 years and then worked as a bus driver for the Wayne Board of Ed. Jacob's entire life revolved around people. He loved to go to the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo N.Y. dressed as "King Henry the VIII". Edith would accompany him as his Lady "Victoria", both in splendid costumes created by their daughter Patricia. During Christmas, both Jacob and Edith went to various affairs dressed as Mr. & Mrs. "SC". Pleasing people was Jacob's lifelong passion. Jacob leaves behind his daughters, Edith "Dee" Van Housen and Patricia (Van Housen) and her husband Thomas Darnsteadt; 2 grandchildren, Eric and his wife Joan Darnsteadt and Sarah Darnsteadt and her husband Eric Negron; six great-grandchildren, Eric Thomas Darnsteadt, Emma Grace Darnsteadt, Trevor Raymond Darnsteadt, Rhiannon Eva Negron, Romeo Lucas Negron, and Aurora Negron. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. The funeral will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home and will be celebrated by Pastor Diane Koob. Interment will be in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa. Memorials may be made to Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, 54 Pitman Avenue, PO Box 248, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756