Jan Bakker

Jan Bakker, 86 of Apex North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Jan was born on July 9th 1938 in Delft, the Netherlands to the late Rederus Bakker and Johanna van der List, he was the youngest of 2 siblings.
Jan graduated from the University of Leyden with a degree in optics.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Cornelia (van der Doe) Bakker,
And sisters Carolina Vermeulen, and Dirkje Parhan.
Jan and Cornelia met at the age of 17 and were married in 1960 in the Netherlands. They immigrated to the United States in 1961 to Lexington, Massachusetts when Jan was hired by the Itek Corporation. Here he worked on government contracts for the space program making optical equipment, wrote training manuals, and trained technicians the art of optics.
While in Massachusetts Jan and Corrie welcomed two girls; Carolyn van Kampen (wife of Erik), and Jacqueline Shepstone (wife of Stephen).

When his career later led him into sales of lasers and optics they settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania and completed thier family when they were blessed with another daughter; Erica Folk (wife of Richard).
Jan spent many years traveling across the globe for business and when it was time to retire they moved to Apex, North Carolina to be closer to thier daughters and grandchildren.

Jan and Corrie were Opa and Oma to seven grandchildren Riley Shepstone, Peri van Kampen, Brittany Shepstone, Brennan Shepstone, Gwen Folk, Nikolas Folk, and Kate Shepstone.

He was always looking for ways to serve the communities in which he lived.
These included being an usher in church, driving a school bus, meals on wheels, backpack buddies, and in his younger years teaching English to others immigrating to the US.

He will be remembered by his family and friends as a great storyteller and always the life of the party, he relished being the perfect host even if it wasn't his soiree.

His favorite place to be was on the water be it by a lake or an ocean. His favorite time of day was happy hour, where he could raise a glass and toast his family and friends. "Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it a happy one!"

A memorial service will be held on July 5,2025 at 11 AM at the Kirk of Kildaire Church.
200 High Meadow Drive Cary, NC.
The service will be live streamed on the @TheKirkofKildaire YouTube channel.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Transitions Life of Care Hospice House at 200 Hospice Cir. Raleigh, NC. or at www.transitionslifecare.org