Cornelis “Case (Kees)” Leenheer passed away so peacefully on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at his home in Bellville, Texas, with his wife, Carlien, and family by his side. He was born in Kisaran Sumatra, Indonesia, on October 21, 1931. He celebrated his 90th birthday this last October, which was an important milestone to Kees.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Carlien; children Case Coenraad Lennheer and Julianne Marie Gailey’ Carlien’s children (we were never considered “Stepchildren” by Case) Carl Antonio Vita, Cynthia Lynn Frazer, and Christina Ann Alford (deceased).

Grandchildren; Hal Gailey, Grasen Gailey, Steven Gailey, wife Rose, Denise Zepeda, husband Mason; Christanne Houghland, husband Robbi, and Sara Leenheer.

Great-Grandchildren; Logan Hinson, Harliegh Zepeda, Anne Elizabeth Gailey, Emma Houghland, and Eli Houghland.

His family also consisted of sisters Joan Steffers (Deceased), Nicoline Leenheer of the Netherlands, his parents, Cornelis Coenradd “Poppy” Leenheer, and Leinicka Leenheer, having predeceased Case and his sister some time ago. He is additionally survived by other relatives in the Netherlands and around the world. And last, but certainly not least, the friends he had here in Texas, Bob and Kim Purcell, Raine Roberts, and his “Church” Family with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, along with the people he met and worked with all over the world. He leaves us all with such fond and sweet memories.

Case Leenheer lived a fascinating life. Raised in Indonesia in Southeast Asia. At the age of 10, Kees, his parents, and his sister, age 3, were interned in a Prisoner of War camp by the invaders of Indonesia. His mother, sister, and Kees were in one camp and his father in a Men’s Camp. When he was about 12, he was transferred to Men’s Camp because of his age, and it was by accident he was transferred to the same camp that his father was in. He and his family were liberated in September of 1945. Case then attended the Institute Montana, Zugerburg in Zug, Switzerland, for six years to complete his high school years and continue learning eight languages. He came to the United States and entered the University of Wyoming in December 1952 and majored in Petroleum Engineering. While in college, he coached the first soccer team in the University’s history. After graduating in 1957, he spent the rest of his life working in the field of Project Management.

His love of soccer led to his founding a youth soccer team in 1965. He served as “Coach” and the President of youth soccer in Fullerton, California, where he was working. The Fullerton Youth Soccer Organization is still very active and, over the years, has won many titles. He returned to Indonesia for the first time in 1974 to work for an Indonesian company in part because of his command of the Indonesian language. In 1975, he returned to Sumatra for a few days and found some of his childhood friends and servants. While there, he toured the Rubber Plantation where his father had worked and even the site for the demolished prison camp. This overseas job led to the rest of his life working in both the U.S. and countries around the world. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; a refurbishing of a petroleum plant in Algeria, Site Administration, 260 Algerian workers; Brunei Shell in Brunei on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia; in a government-owned oil company in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the building of an oil plant in eastern Venezuela; Large Cargo freighter, fuel systems for the Dream Liner, the 787 for Boeing Aircraft in Evert, Washington were some, but not all of the interesting and exotic places he and many time Carlien would call home.

A special “Thank You” from the bottom of our hearts to Allumine Hospice, Elaine Washington, Aide; Wendy Frank and her incredible group of Nurses and Aides for Allumine; Dr. Don Bosse and Mia Williams PA. Not forgetting Johnny Lee Jackson, Care Giver, and Friend, with Life Changes Home Staffing Solution. Their care for Kees was exceptional and a blessing this family will never forget.

The Gentlemen bearing Cornelius to his final rest in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Bellville, Texas, are Hal and steven Gailey (grandsons); Harold Gailey (son-in-law); Carl vita (stepson), joined by Jay Howell and Robert Purcell (family friends).

Cornelius Leenheer lived a full and robust life and will be missed by all.