Arend "Pete" Folkens Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

BENICIA, CA. – Arend “Pete” Folkens, 101, a long-time resident of the Oakmont community in the Sonoma Valley, and recently of Benicia, died on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Benicia. He was the devoted husband of Pauline Louise (Schade) Folkens and a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, godfather, and friend. Arend was born May 31, 1920 in Rock Rapids, Iowa, 15 days after his parents, Pieter (“Piet”) and Anna (Feenstra) Fokkens, arrived in the United States from Parrage, Freisland (Netherlands) through Ellis Island. Arend was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard a patrol frigate (PF-34) in the Western Pacific, particularly in the Aitape (New Guinea) Invasion and Leyte Gulf. Upon returning from the war, he enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle where his studies were interrupted in his final year as he was called up to fight in the Korean War aboard a destroyer (DD-755) of the U.S. Navy. He later returned to finish his degree and became a Huskies fan for life and the first of his extended family to graduate from college. Arend and Pauline were married in 1951, settling in Bakersfield where he was a mortgage banker and active in church, community, and public service, including serving as one of the first members of the Board of Directors of the Golden Empire Transit District. They moved to Northern California in 1978 where he worked for CalVet and eventually settled in Oakmont. Arend’s interests included music of many genres; traveling, especially visiting family in The Netherlands; playing tennis until age 90; hiking; play-reading; and playing dominoes. A man of the highest integrity, honesty, and character, he had a deep personal conviction to “do the right thing” and to ensure that “his word was his bond.” Surviving are his sons Pieter (Ellen) Folkens of Benicia, and Karl (Nell) Folkens of Florence, SC; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Folkens of Cayce, SC, Arend Pieter (Lauren) Folkens of Ooltewah, TN, Anna (Dave Streng) Folkens of Charlotte, NC, and Alysen Folkens of Benicia; a great-grandson, Louie Dinndorf of Florence; a great-granddaughter, Amelia Folkens of Ooltewah (due in August); godchildren David Bond and Sherrill Marshall; many nephews and a niece; and a special friend, Barbara Hoffman, of Oakmont. Arend was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, his parents and sisters, Pearl Ann Hardersen and Jeannette Lilly, of Enumclaw, Washington. A graveside service will be held at the San Joaquin National Cemetery, Santa Nella, CA, on May 27 at 12 noon to include a military honor guard. A memorial service will be held at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel, 901 W 2nd St, Benicia, CA, on Saturday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choosing.

Arend "Pete" Folkens

May 31, 1920 - May 17, 2022