Obituary of Hendrik J. Rodenburg

Hendrik (Hank) Jan Rodenburg, age 81, died from a heart attack in his home on the morning of June 30, 2016 at 102 Springdale Way, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Hank was born in Hilversum, Holland February 8, 1935 to the late Herman Hendrik Jan Paul Rodenburg and Geertruida Berends. As a young boy he witnessed firsthand the tragedies of World War II. Hank completed his technical education in economic management and engineering in the Netherlands. After serving in the Royal Dutch Army for a few years he left for the United States to complete an internship in engineering. He started working at the American Can Company in 1961 where he served as Director of engineering for over thirty years. During those early years he met the love of his life, Renate Binnewies, on a bus to Yosemite National Park in California. They married on August 9, 1964, and lived in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut where they raised their three children. In 1987 Hank and Renate moved to Oakville, Canada where he took a job with Ball Packaging. After retiring, he served many years on the board of the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association, an conservation association of local residents. In 2006 he and Renate moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to be closer to their children. Although retired, he stayed very busy serving his community. He served on the board with the Meadowmont Community Association for eight years, four of those years as president, two as vice president. He was on the Architectural Review Board, The Light Rail Transit Project, and Aging in Place. He also served on the Chapel Hill Community Design Commission. He and Renate were members of Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist, where he served on the Memorial Rock Committee, ECO (environmental committee), and led the campaign to install solar panels for the church. He and Renate were members of Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Hank lost Renate to Ocular Melanoma in September, 2012. He was father to Annette (Dave) Clark of San Jose, CA, Mark (Carolyn) Rodenburg of Leesburg, VA, and Inez Rodenburg of Danville, VA, grandfather to Stacy, Steven, Megan, Emma, and Sofia and great grandfather to Chase. He was a devoted husband and wonderful father. He served faithfully in his church and community and was respected and loved by many. He will always be remembered for his passion for the environment. In particular, he was dedicated to preserving green space and educating the community about the benefits of solar energy. He loved attending concerts with Renate and taking courses at Duke University. He also enjoyed traveling abroad and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed. There will be a memorial service at the Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist (106 Purefoy Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina), at 2:00 PM, on August 27, 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in honor of Hank J. Rodenburg to the Memorial Rock Fund at the Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist or the Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (88 Vilcom Center Drive, Suite L 110, Chapel Hill NC, 27514