Tineke Cornelia Schouten
January 26, 1931 - November 28, 2025
Tineke Cornelia Schouten was born on January 26, 1931 in Barsingerhorn, the Netherlands to
Dirk Schouten and Trijntje Walst Schouten.
She immigrated to the United States on April 13, 1956 sponsored by the Houck family of Oak
Park, IL who truly became her surrogate family as Mom Houck referred to her as her special
daughter. The entire Houck family through the generations consider Tineke as a special part of
their family.
She worked hard as an administrative assistant at Marsh and McLennan,Inc. while Mr. Houck
patiently worked with her learning the English language, culture, customs, and study of
business, finance and other requirements to become a U.S. citizen - which she did become in
1977 under President Gerald Ford. She also worked at The Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and
The Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine under Midwestern University as the Executive
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College. She also became a Real Estate Broker for
Century 21.
She was a member of the Dutch Immigrant Society, the Knickerbocker Society, , member of the
Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian Institute, the Wilderness Society, Singe Adult Group of
First Presbyterian Church and First Methodist Church of Oak Park, IL, active member of the First
Congregational Church in Oak Park, member of The Chicago Temple, United Methodist Church,
downtown Chicago, member of the International Relations Group of Oak Park, a member of the
Chicago Association of Realtors, member of her Block Club in her Southside neighborhood.
Also, she was one of the Founding Members and Director of God First Ministries, Inc. under Dr.
Mildred C. Harris, CEO and Founder. Tineke was awarded the Ministries Signatures of Prolific
Women in 2025 for her time, dedication, faithfulness, and contributions over her many years of
service. When she retired and moved to Ocala, Florida, she held her Realtor License in the
State of Florida, was a faithful member of Meadowbrook Church, member of the Prayer Shawl
Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Ocala, Florida and dedicated member of the Hidden
Village Home Owners Association.
Tineke was a survivor of WWII. Having lived through the atrocities, she endured much suffering
and hardships in war-torn Holland, including the loss of her father at an early age. She was
always thankful for the Lord’s help and for the Americans’ help in ending the war and sending
food following the "hunger winter of 1944-1945".
After her third and last attempt to immigrate, the World Council of Church found a sponsor
for her to come to America. Little did she know that the Houck family and a few other
members on the board on of their church were praying and instrumental in helping to settle
immigrants from the Netherlands in Oak Park. She made it to the land of freedom and
opportunity! The Houch family truly became her American family. She worked hard at
achieving the American Dream. She was very active in church and community.
Just as the War separated nations and peoples, Tineke felt separated from her mother,
sisters and remaining family as they struggled to rebuild their lives. Back then even a phone
call was expensive. But she saved and over the years she did try to visit the Netherlands as
much as possible and helped them visit America as well. She also managed to visit her older
sister and her family who immigrated to Chicago and then moved to New York.
We will miss her English Toffee (recipe passed down by Mrs. Houck), her sweet smile, Dutch
Schouten adventurous and pioneering and resilient spirit, chocolate letters at Christmas time,
Dutch cheese, Chocolates, sitting down for coffee and discussing world events and her
favorite topic - finance and business. In her Chicago days, she dressed to the nines, as if to
meet royalty.
She really thrived in Chicago and that was were her heart was even after she moved to
Florida where she was inseparable from her older sister, Grietje.
Tineke would say that most important to her of anything in her life was her relationship and
love for her Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith was her hope and her anchor.
Tineke will be missed by many. Her light and joy were contagious.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dirk Schouten and mother Trijntje Schouten of the
Netherlands, her sister Grietje Lewis of Ocala, Florida, her other sister Herma Lengkeek of the
Netherlands, and niece Margriet Milders of the Netherlands. She is survived by niece Julie
Kennedy (and her husband, Mike); nephews Dirk Lewis (and his wife, Teresa), and Tom Lewis
(and his wife, Leslie Carmona) and Olaf Milders; great nieces Brenda Alarco (and her
husband,
Henry), Eve Kraft (and her husband, Cody), Lydia Louwter (and husband, Dirk), Isabella; great
nephews, Joshua, Michael (and his wife, Heather), Luke; Maarten (and wife, Thailita); great
great niece, Sophia and great great nephews Lucas, Luuk, and Cooper.
The family would like to give special appreciate to the Houck Family, Dr. Mildred C. Harris,
God First Ministries and God First Church in Gary, Indiana and the participants in the
Memorial Service, Senator Mattie Hunter, the Block Club, her dear neighbors, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to God First Ministries at
https://godfirstministries.org/contact-us-1