From the Mobile Register, March 2015
Dec. 22, 1924 - March 5, 2015 Peter was born December 22, 1924 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and departed from this life on March 5, 2015. After escaping from a labor camp in occupied Holland during World War II, Peter made his way to Scotland with the help of the Dutch underground and joined the Dutch Marine Corps. He trained at Fort Lejeune, and while there he met Billie Ruth Springfield, his future wife and the love of his life. After serving two tours of duty in Indonesia, Peter returned to settle in Texas. A lifelong passion for horticulture led him to Texas A&M University and a career in the Nursery Industry. Peter founded van der Giessen Nursery in Mobile, AL with his son Maarten. Peter was a Fellow in the International Plant Propagators, and earned the Lifetime Achievement award from the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association. He was a dedicated father, horticulturalist, and friend. Peter was larger than life. He never met a stranger, and every man was his friend. Peter was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Billie van der Giessen. He is survived by his brother, Henk van der Giessen, his children Nella (David) MacRae and Maarten (Colleen) van der Giessen, and his four beloved grandchildren: Ian MacRae, Anna MacRae Thomas, Andrew MacRae, and Alec MacRae. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral for Peter and his wife, Billie Ruth Springfield van der Giessen on Saturday, March 14th at 11:00am for family and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Mobile Botanical Gardens Aromi Garden -
Not my line, just sharing.