LAKEPORT, Calif. – Johannes (Hans) Christoffer Carmiggelt passed away peacefully in his Lakeport home on Dec. 12, 2016. He was 94 years old.

Hans was born in Utrecht, Holland, on May 18, 1922, to Jan and Jootje Carmiggelt.

He came of age during very troubling times in Europe and served in the Dutch resistance movement for the duration of World War II. In later years he enjoyed regaling friends and family with stories of his war time experiences.

He was a master sailor and put his talents to work sailing the canals of Holland, undertaking acts of sabotage against the Nazis, who maintained a brutal occupation of their country.

He and his fellow resistance comrades helped their friends and families survive the war and eventually reclaim their country after the German surrender. And Hans had the honor of being issued the first sailing instructor’s license by the post war Dutch government.

Sometime after the end of the war, Hans and his bride Hennie moved to Indonesia in search of opportunity.

Hans, who was a professional engineer, ended up designing and assisting with the construction of numerous airports and commercial building projects around the country.

He and Hennie started their family there as well, with Hennie giving birth to daughter Olga and son Coen.

In 1958 the family returned to Holland, where Hans continued his engineering career.

In March of 1960 Hans, sensing better opportunity, migrated to the United States, settling in Southern California, and in 1965 he discovered and moved his family to Lake County. He was quickly hired by the Lake County Public Works Department where he served as county engineer under director Gene Collins.

Hans’ construction accomplishments are still on display here. He oversaw the design and construction of most of the public boat launching ramps that remain in service today around the lake. He also headed up the county’s role in the construction of State Highway 29 from Kelseyville to Upper Lake.

In 1985 Hans retired and devoted full time to his lifelong passion of sailing. He served multiple terms as commodore of the Lakeport Yacht Club, which, coincidentally, was designed by his father, also an engineer, while on vacation in Lakeport.

Hans sailed competitively for many years, winning numerous trophies, including the Konocti Half Cup.  His home was located at the very entrance to the Land’s End estuary where he enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the art of sailing and seamanship.

Hans was preceded in death by Hennie, his wife of 52 years; his son, Coen; and his brother, Walter.

He is survived by daughter, Olga Racine, and her husband Paul; grandson, Paul (P.J.) Racine and his wife Sausha; granddaughter, Tara Racine and her husband Raoul Belleau; stepdaughter, Elsien Beens; grandson, Jeroen Van Den Berg; and great-grandchildren, Addison, Riley, Jasmine, Kaia, Luna and Malia.

A celebration of life and party will be held on May 20, 2017, at Hans’ home at 2500 Reeves Lane, Lakeport.