By Richard Harms, November 2011
Title: John N. Cevaal Postage Stamp Collection, 1957-2006
ID: COLL/521
Primary Creator: Cevaal, John N. Postage Stamp
Extent: 0.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.
Arrangement: Folder level description
John Nicholas Cevaal collected first day cover and postage stamps from the Netherlands and Dutch territories of the Dutch Antilles and Suriname. Some of the covers were sent through the postal system, others were cancelled first day cover that were purchased but not mailed. Most commemorate events in Dutch history.
Although colorful and interesting to view, an appraisal requested by Calvin College Development Office indicated that these cover have minimal financial value. The collection also contains loose cancelled Dutch postage stamps.
John "Slim" Cevaal, son of Abraham Cevaal (born 7 April 1885, Ritthem, Zeeland, the Netherlands; died 21 June 1969, Sheboygan, Wisconsin) and Jozina/Josephine de Klerk (born 12 May 1884, Nieuw en Sint Joosland, Zeeland, the Netherlands; died 22 June 1966, Cutlerville, Michigan). Slim Cevaal was born 20 July 1918, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; died 25 October 2012, Tucson, Arizona. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Cevaal attempted to enlist in the US Army after Germany invaded the Netherlands, but was rejected due to his height, 6 feet 7 inches. He was accepted as an enlisted man after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During his military he rose to the rank of major, and served in the Pacific and European Theaters during WW II, and in Viet Nam; earning both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. At the end of WW II he was part of the Marshall Plan effort to rebuild Austria. After retiring from the Army he served as a consultant, including MWH Global, Inc., vendor for energy and sustainability consulting, program and project management, mission support, asset management, real estate consulting, environmental, engineering, design and construction services.
In 1950 Cevaal married Lempi Josephine "Kay" Dalback in the post chapel, Fort Carson, Colorado. Kay (born 18 May 1907, Mass City, Michigan; died 19 July 2003, Tucson, Arizona) was the daughter of Oscar Dalback and Johanna Poavola, both natives of Finland. Kay worked as a federal civil service employee for the US Army for over 20 years, retiring in 1969. They had no children.
John Cevaal's sibling were: Jan (21 August 1911 - 25 September 1911, Middelburg, Zeeland, the Netherlands) and Paulina Suzanna "Polly" (15 July 1914 Koudekerke, Zeeland, the Netherlands - 31 October 1993, Sheboygan, Wisconsin) married to Ernest Henry Jentink.
Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement: 1 Boxes
Acquisition Source: John N. Cevaal
