Hans Falkenhagen

On Thursday, October 1, 2020, Hans Falkenhagen passed away peacefully at home in Tinton Falls, NJ, at the age of 85. He was born on May 6, 1935, in Blaricum, Netherlands, and spent his childhood and early adult life in Amsterdam. Hans worked at the Amstel Hotel and for the Royal Netherlands Steamship Company, where he met Teddy and Dorothy Wood, who sponsored his immigration to the United States in 1957. He served in the US Army from 1958 – 1960 in Korea. Hans continued his career in the hotel and restaurant business in NYC and later moved to NJ, where he worked at the Quay in Sea Bright. It was at the Quay where he met the love of his life, Nancy. They married and had two children, Karen (Whitaker) and Erik. He was a dedicated and loving husband and father. Hans was a hard worker and always very proud of all the businesses he worked for and his colleagues. In the 1980s, he held positions at audio, visual, and technology companies, including AVL, TVL, and Modern Mass Media. In the 1990s, he became a dry cleaner and operated cleaners in Jackson and Rumson, NJ, until he retired for a short time. Hans enjoyed being busy and came out of retirement and worked at White Dove Cleaners until he was 77 years old. After retiring for good, he enjoyed volunteering at Lunch Break and the Monmouth County SPCA. Hans loved professional sports and family activities were scheduled around Rangers ice hockey, Yankees baseball, and Giants football games. He also loved being actively involved in his children's sports activities in roles such as manager, coach, and cheerleader. He rarely missed his children's and later grandchildren's games or races. Hans was known for his fantastic memory and could recall details of events like no other. He could make any short story quite long. We will all miss his stories of growing up in Amsterdam, being a child during World War II, good times at the Quay with friends, and his travels. Hans is pre-deceased by his father and mother, Friedrich and Klaasje Falkenhagen, brother Augustus and partner Cocky Seur, and brother Rudi Falkenhagen of the Netherlands. Hans is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Nancy, their daughter Karen and her husband Mark Whitaker, his son Erik and his wife Adena, his sister-in law, Greetje Falkenhagen, and his four grandchildren, Jeffrey Jackman, Jr., Noah Falkenhagen, and Evan and Keira Whitaker. He was an active member of The First Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. No services are being held at this time, but we hope to celebrate his life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to Lunch Break or the Monmouth County SPCA. To make a memorial donation, please see 'Memorial Contributions' at the bottom of the page.