My Pieter went to Heaven on April 30

 

This photo I selected for his obituary as it embodies him so perfectly!

A happy and humble man 

Pieter J.C. Vedder SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Commercial Mushroom Cultivation and Education passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at his home.

Pieter was born on april 29, 1929, in Duiven, the Netherlands during the Great Depression, the youngest son of three. He was baptized the same day in the Catholic St. Andreas Church of Groessen. There he was a member of the Church choir, from his youth on.

The war years left a deep impression on Pieter's entire life. Being evacuated and finding the house half bombed when they returned home, as well as the glass greenhouses in shards. Pieter's Dad grew peaches, plums, grapes, and tomatoes under glass.

Pieter played the accordion for the recording of a spoken letter to his two brothers who were deployed in Indonesia during the national revolution.

Training partially interrupted for his military service, from 4 October 1950 to 1 February 1952. Graduated in 1957 with university education in Wageningen, for horticulture and horticultural engineering, with excellent grades. Pieter also had a degree in teaching.

In 1957 he became assistant A of the Research Station for Mushroom Cultivation.

In 1961 he published his first publication Modern Mushroom Growing; 5 more editions followed.

In 1962 he became an instructor and head of the Education Department and was involved in the establishment of the Center for Mushroom Cultivation Education.

Pieter's Dad died on April 21, 1967, so he knew that his youngest became principal!

By 1978, his book had been translated into 5 languages and was called a unique achievement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Directorate of Agricultural Education. Total of 9 languages now and has been called the MUSHROOM BIBLE.

Pieter was very active as a Committee Member for Youth Affairs, in the municipality of Horst.

Also, as Chairman of Youth and Nature

Member of the Board of Housing and Management, Venray–Horst region

Member of the Dean's Financial Committee of the Deanery of Horst

Member of the Diocesan Financial Commission Limburg

Pieter was a member of the Rotary Club Venray, since May 11 of 1976 and President Rotary Club Venray 1978/1979

Honorary President Rotary Club Royal Forest of Dean in U.K. 1978/1979

Rotary member Montebelluna, Italy

Rotary member Dublin, Georgia and Paul Harris Fellow 1996/1997 now Honorary member for several years.

In 1982, Pieter received the Sinden Award from the Mushroom Growers Association in the U.K.—the highest accolade in the Mushroom Industry.

Worked for Campbell Soup International as Vice President Training and Development from August 1983 to March 1989.

People to People Citizen Ambassador in March/April 1987. Pieter, being a world renown mushroom expert, got chosen for joining a group of 10, to visit Universities, lecturing and making field trips on behalf of the Mushroom Industry. His employer Campbell Soup did fully cover his expenses.

Head of the Technology Division at Fungi del Montello in Italy from 1 March 1989 to February 1990.

Dieng Djaya in Indonesia from 1 March 1990 to April 1992 and until 2001 as a consultant.

International Consultant with partner Mariette from 1992 to 2004 and only then time for our own house and garden. Pieter played the Es–trumpet and trombone while in the military. Pieter also played the organ for the Catholic Church, and he played the accordion. Music was one of his hobbies, as were photography and gardening. He also loved cycling and did so on his E–bike until April 7, 2024

In 2020, we together self–published our book 'modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting' for print on demand worldwide. In this way, Pieter's intellect has been preserved and thousands more can benefit from it. Quite proud that it is listed in the U.K. as a university textbook.

Thus ends an intensive but very humble life, focused on Commercial Mushroom Cultivation Education and also a life of always being there for others and often pro bono. We both have always been very committed to lifting the stigma around leprosy, something Princess Diana did so intensely. A biblical disease of people who have no voice. We visited the same leprosy hospital near Jakarta, Indonesia that Princess Diana did visit and helped raise funds for those voiceless.

Pieter was a great supporter and board member of the local Heart of Georgia Community Concert Association and the Dublin Association of Fine Arts, Inc. Under his leadership and diplomacy, the two merged.

Pieter's Dad died in 1967 and his mother in 1989. Middle brother Toon in 2006 and eldest brother Thé in 2012. He has an adopted daughter Liz Vedder in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and foster daughter Anita Anggraeni in Semarang, Indonesia. His goddaughter and niece Myriam with daughters Sanne and partner with great–great niece Bobbie, Lotte and son Auke, and niece Judith (Hems) and great–niece Nienke.

His wife of over 40 years, Mariette VandenMunckhof–Vedder

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday May 10, 2024 at Dublin First Methodist Church.

Stanley Funeral Home and Crematory/Dublin Chapel has charge of the arrangements.

Related links:

May 10, 2024 Pieter J C Vedder's Memorial Service | post about Memorial Service

Our Final Easter Together | wrote my final letter to Pieter...

Silver Clock and Oak Wall Clock repaired by Pieter | earlier letter to Pieter

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion

September 9, 1969 Grand Opening practical Mushroom Training Center in Horst

On September 9, it will be exactly 53 years ago, that in Horst, The Netherlands the 1st and ONLY practical Training College for Mushroom Growing in the world, had its official Grand Opening by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, a branch of the Dutch Government. 

My husband Pieter founded it and he was the Principal and one of the active Teachers for decades, already since 1963, until he became Vice President Training & Development for Campbell Soup Company in charge of their Mushroom Division in the USA, Canada and Australia.

Pieter J.C. Vedder

On the way to the front door of Centre for the official opening...

Pieter on the left, holding his daughter Lizzy by the hand.

As published in the Dutch magazine de champignon cultuur nummer 8, oktober 1969:

~

 Lizzy Vedder heeft zojuist de sleutel van het Centrum, bevestigd aan een tuiltje champignons, overhandigd aan Ir. P. van der Schans, Directeur van het Landbouwonderwijs van het Ministerie van Landbouw en Visserij, die zo dadelijk het Centrum zal openen. – Ter weerszijden van Ir. van der Schans de heren Vedder en Ambrosius, gevolgd door de overige genodigden.

~

 Lizzy Vedder has just handed over the key to the Centre, attached to a bunch of mushrooms, to Ir. P. van der Schans, Director of Agricultural Education at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, who will open the Centre shortly. – On either side of Ir. van der Schans Messrs Vedder and Ambrosius, followed by the other guests.

From the hallway area, now to the other building for the ceremony.

Front row from left: Jan Keijsers (architect); Pieter J.C. Vedder; Els Keijsers; J.L. Hendriks from Kessel with his wife; P. Keysers from Melderslo.

Second row from left: Riet Uitermark, Annemie Poels and me...

From left to right: ?; Pieter J.C. Vedder; B.J.P. (Ben) Ambrosius; A.W. (Ton) Gijtenbeek; C. Pleunis Sr.; J.G.J. (Jan) van Asseldonk.

Pieter's Dad had passed away from cancer, just two years prior to this Grand Opening.

But he was close to his heart as Pieter wore his Dad's special gold seed pearl tie stick pin...

Pieter Wearing his Silk Ascot with his Dad's Tie Stick Pin ←click link for details.

Fortunately, Pieter's Dad was alive when Pieter's 1st and 2nd Dutch editions of Modern Mushroom Growing got published.

Since there was no educational material available for his Training Centre, Pieter had to write his own...

Translated into 8 official languages it did become the Mushroom Bible.

From left: Pieter's eldest brother Thé Vedder; Pieter J.C. Vedder; Mother Vedder; Secretary Dora Van den Bekerom.

In back from left: Roel Seubring; ?; ?; Jan Huijs; C. Pleunis Sr.

We also did hear Pieter play his accordion as well as Fennie Seubring, wife of Roel Seubring.

See also link below post...

My 2nd cousin Annemie Poels and me, helping out in serving beverages...

Wearing my own sewing creation, made from silver–blue lurex fabric.

Yes, Pieter J.C. Vedder did well, and till today, there never has been a second practical Mushroom Training Center.

In 1993 the CCO became IPC Plant (Innovatie Praktijkcentrum) or Innovation Practice Centre.

In 1999 the Practice Centre for Mushroom Cultivation became completely independent.

~

It is quite hard, for having certified and experienced teachers, with knowledge about chemistry, physics, economics and a passion for helping others!

Pieter always had his office door WIDE open and anyone was welcome with questions or whatsoever.

That was his unique policy.

That has remained so over the years, we have had numerous phone calls, even in the middle of the night and Pieter always tried to help others.

~

Of course there are various mushroom consultants, that all know 'something' about a part of the total procedure. 

But often they do so, on 'borrowed knowledge' and not so much based on personal, practical experience and/or by use of scraped content. 

Related links:

{Unique Accordion LOVE Story} | previous post by me about Pieter playing his accordion

{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me with more photos

Some thoughts about training and farm management on a mushroom farm by Pieter J.C. Vedder | previous post by me

IT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE A MUSHROOM FARM PROFITABLE by Pieter. J.C. Vedder | previous post by me

Pieter Co-Speaker at ISMS in Amsterdam-Wageningen 1965 | previous post by me

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | our long time experience bundled...

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion

Our 3rd Cabin Stay at The Hill on Cherokee Lake in Tennessee

 Yes, we finally managed to book our 3rd getaway to the Cabin at the Hill on Cherokee Lake in Tennessee!

It is great however that they mostly are BOOKED! 

This was the sign we found next to the entrance door of our Cabin...

A warm welcome with a personal touch!

It was quite a drive the 400 mi or 644 km from our home to the cabin in Bean Station, Tennessee.

This time I opted for going via the Interstate and that way we could make a stop in Atlanta for lunch and doing some little grocery shopping...

By 17:10 I pulled up next to our cabin.

Photo courtesy of evolve.com

This is where we would stay for seven nights... more photos via link above.

Both of us enjoyed having time for reading, as we did here on the 25th in the newly added Pavilion outside, due to lovely weather!

Photo courtesy of Josh.

On the 26th I'd prepared supper for all four of us; owners Donna and her son Josh.

It was a bit windy, as you can see on Pieter's 'tie'...

Since the Pavilion is fairly new, there still needs to be some grass seeded (bare spot).

Appetizers in the form of fresh basil leaves with Mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.

Also found some Jicama at the Whole Foods Market in Atlanta...

Trader Joe's Roasted Pepper and Tomato low sodium made a perfect base for my home cooked soup.

Fresh leek and home made meat balls from Whole Foods Market's Grass Fed Ground Beef 95% lean, mixed with egg, Panko and hand rolled into balls.

Farro grains got also added.

Photo courtesy of Josh and in the bottom right corner you still can see what's left of my Tiramisu, made from mascarpone and Italian lady fingers and dusted off with Dutch Droste cocoa.

Josh always dreamed of going to Italy so we treated him on some Italian foods like e.g. Prosecco the sexy Italian cousin of champagne. It comes from the area where we lived and worked in Italy...

And yes, Pieter had brought his box with the accordion for playing again after about one year, due to his ring finger not being able to straighten. He had a little surgery done on March 18, by a hand surgeon and since then used a splint twice daily, for straightening his finger further.

A topical surgery—incision of tendon covering... but painful and done in the hand surgeon's office while seated in a chair.

Pieter playing in their pavilion while the wild geese were flying overhead...

Walking alongside Cherokee Lake on May 27...

A sunny day and my cap kept the sun out of my eyes.

The road had dead ended here... but I loved seeing those daisies growing in the wild.

In the distance you can see German Creek Bridge on Cherokee Lake in Bean Station, with to the right some condos.

On May 27, while I was working on some little projects for taking out stitches with a seam ripper, Pieter walked towards the German Creek Bridge.

Too narrow for a pedestrian or biker with its two 8 feet lanes!

Previous trips when not using the Interstate, we'd come across this bridge as well.

Same vegetation but Pieter now stood a little more to the left for this photo.

May 29 another walk together on Mary's Chapel Rd just to show the stretched out meadows where cows were grazing. The weather had become rather cool and windy.

But even with a jacket on, we enjoyed wildlife and the incredible views!

Here Pieter holds a thistle flower that was growing on Cherokee Drive...

Somewhat further down on Cherokee Drive we caught a view of Cherokee Lake but overall, the huge hardwood trees were blocking the view.

On Saturday evening the 29th of May it was the perfect chilly evening for sitting near the fire pit.

Josh is a master at building a good fire!

Photo courtesy of Josh

On Sunday May 30, we walked again a somewhat different loop and this picture I took from Tater Hill overlooking Cherokee Lake.

On Monday May 31, on Memorial Day, we had to say goodbye again to these two very special friends.

Driving back home via Knoxville, Tennessee, past Chattanooga into Georgia via Atlanta to the south.

Fond memories and we enjoyed our time for relaxing and being in nature!

Our kitty welcome committee was heart warming but they were fine and well cared for, thanks to their cat-sitter Ingrid.

Previous posts:

Our 2nd Cabin Stay at The Hill on Cherokee Lake

Our Cabin Stay at The Hill by Cherokee Lake in Tennessee

SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | Clingmans Dome Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee 

Gatlinburg Sky Lift Park Walking the Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge in the U.S. | We did while staying at the Cabin due to the noise in Gatlinburg itself.

{Unique Accordion LOVE Story} | previous post about Pieter's accordion

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era

Music Teacher Wim  Gesthuizen, painstakingly hand–copied each lesson for Pieter to practice...

Music booklet

Titles listed and to the right you see the name: Th. van Megen, a skipper on the River Rhine. He smuggled the Soberano accordion into the country for Pieter... 

The price for that instrument was six pounds of coffee that Pieter's Mom had stashed away!

Don't forget, this was during WWII there was absolutely no coffee available, it became valuable like gold for Germans.

An den schönen blauen Donau – Johann Strauss

On the beautiful Danube – Johann Strauss

Pieter seen above practicing from this music booklet during WWII on his Hohner, gifted from his Uncle, before he got his new Soberano...

This Hohner that Pieter is holding in his hands, was a diatonic accordion, namely a Viennese model 2–rower with 21 buttons and 8 bass. These models were used from the 1910s to the 1930s.

Later when Pieter joined the military, he also played an Es-trumpet and Trombone with their small military band they marched in front with the International Four Days Marches in Nijmegen.

This is what Pieter knew and studied and also what he played for his serenade: 1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | you can listen to it via link from previous post...

1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter J.C. Vedder Playing his Accordion for his Marine Brother

At the local café in Groessen, The Netherlands, Mr. Holland, also coalman and grocer, had set up a make-shift studio.

 That make-shift studio came from Apeldoorn, a bigger city in the Province of Gelderland.

GELUIDSTECHNISCH BUREAU - SOUND TECHNICAL BUREAU

JAC van Wijk, APELDOORN

Once again: Grateful to NIMH The Netherlands for extracting its contents! See for more info link below from first post at bottom where I explain about donating these records to the Dutch Institute for Military History

Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

Ministerie van Defensie

Photo is from a couple of years earlier where Pieter played on his Hohner.

This recording he did with his beloved Soberano.

Husband Pieter playing on his accordion two songs for his Marine brother serving in Indonesia...

Aan de over van de Beuly in Dutch

On the banks of the Breuly

Between Ooy and Zevenaar

A frog sat loudly crying

With his hands in his hair

Dear little one, the mother spoke

See yonder that stork

't Is the murderer of you father

He ate him with skin and hair

Dammit, spoke the little

Did the tall one do that

When later I'm big and strong

I'll sure beat him up

The little one grew up

Again he saw that stork

And you won't believe it

He ate him with skin and hair

On the banks of the Breuly

Between Ooy and Zevenaar

A frog sat crying loudly

With his hands in his hair

Cheerio Holland

 I sing you a song full of sway and pleasure 

Of Holland, proud but small 

The land of the dunes, the forests and sea 

Where all those mills are 

From the flower bulb fields, the butter and cheese 

Foremost of Dutch generosity 

Where, that they are free again 

And again be so welcoming 

There I prefer to be of all 

refrain: 

Cheerio! Cheerio! In Holland there they sing like this 

Away with the worries and away with the sadness 

We will get there, even though we are not there yet 

Because the boys of Tromp and Piet Hein 

They will not get them down 

We had the moth in it for five years 

But now things are turning 

And Dutch we want to be 

The Dutch engineers are known 

They make this country great 

They dig channels and dampen the sea 

Exactly if it is just a ditch 

And it is again so beautiful in the forest or the heath 

The Betuwe and in the Gooi 

And the girls, blast it 

That is Holland's glory 

With that Holland is so beautiful 

refrain 

That country is known for its Deventer Cake 

Oysters from Zierikzee 

Pipes from Gouda, its Peace Palace 

And by its Heroes of the Sea 

Because of its great civility, Moerdijk (technoport), K.L.M (Royal Dutch Airlines) 

The folklore of Volendam 

And Dutch prosperity 

The good old gin 

That wonderful drink from Schiedam 

refrain 

On June 17, 1949 Pieter's Parents had their 25th Wedding Anniversary but the two boys were not yet home...

After numerous letters and this very unique Gevaphone greeting, the brothers finally got home after the 25th wedding anniversary in 1949... 
Toon (Anthony) departed from Indonesia on September 3, on the Vessel Kota Inten.

Toon was in the possession of some personal items from one of his comrades that did NOT make it back out alive. He was not able to deliver them to the young Marine's Parents though but requested Pieter to do it for him...
So Pieter went to the place of Elst, as he recalls, amidst the many fruit trees in that area. He remembers vividly the emotions that came with that. 
Of course, they invited him inside and asked several questions to which Pieter only could reply, sorry I cannot give you any more information as I was not there...
He never will forget the very emotional impact it had on his young life!

While the two older brothers served, Pieter was summoned to serve. 
One of the City Council Members advised Pieter's Dad to request dispensation as he already had two of his older sons serving at war and he needed a hand for his greenhouses as he himself had severe back problems.
So Pieter drove with his Dad, in their Volkswagen Beetle to Arnhem, the capital of their Province of Gelderland, to see Dr. Hoefnagels a famous specialist for back problems at the Arnhem Hospital.
Somewhat timidly Pieter's Dad stepped in at the doctor's office who asked him in some surly and authoritarian way, 'what are the problems?!'
Pieter's Dad shyly replied: 'My back' to which the doctor snarled: 'What back, where back?!'
To which Pieter's Dad said: 'If YOU don't know where the back is, I'm at the wrong place here.' 
Pieter's Dad turned around and Pieter can still hear his voice saying: 'You just go and serve, I don't need this!'
All in all, Pieter was rather proud of him, regardless the result of this visit.

And thus, husband Pieter had to serve!

 He proudly did!

Related links:
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Marine Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | previous post
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Military Brother Employed Overseas | previous post

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion

1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter J.C. Vedder Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform

It was quite something for hearing this SURPRISE coming off one of the WAV files that got extracted from the Gevaphone records we donated to the Dutch Institute for Military History.
Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie
Ministerie van Defensie
1948 March GEVAPHONE recording Pieter playing 'On the Beautiful Danube' with his Soberano Accordion (not on the Hohner shown in this picture from WWII era photo...)

Grateful to NIMH The Netherlands for extracting its contents! See for more info link below from previous post where I explain about donating these records to the Dutch Institute for Military History 

To the left in back row: Marine brother Toon, Pieter center and Thé in uniform for which Pieter played on his accordion.

Pieter's Mom and Dad in the front.
1948 March GEVAPHONE recording Pieter playing 'On the Beautiful Danube' with his Soberano Accordion (not the one in this earlier photo!)
While his brothers were serving in Indonesia, Pieter was quite musically involved.

'Cauber Elsje'
Accordion lessons and he already sang in the big choir during the summer of 1946 in the Rhineland Operette 'Cauber Elsje', where he also danced with partner Willemien Janssen.
Pieter also was requested to play his accordion at a wedding of Tilly Stokman's neighbors, she was an acquaintance of Pieter.
While doing so, someone turned violent and wanted to grab Pieter's accordion and throw it into the water well... Tilly managed to guide him out through a backdoor into the grain field... WOW!

Brother Thé, for whom Pieter played his accordion, was almost 3 years deployed, without any return home.
As soon as he got home, after the Marine brother, husband Pieter was wearing his uniform!
No 3 brothers at once could serve...
Pieter's Mom & Dad in 1950, with standing behind them from left: Pieter, Thé and Toon.

Husband Pieter in uniform... the youngest of three brothers serving.

Next post is a spoken letter to his Marine Brother...

Related links:
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Military Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
{Unique Accordion LOVE Story} | previous post by me about Pieter's 3rd accordion...

Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion