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History of Willemse Stained Glass
History of Willemse Stained Glass
Bert Willemse was a 3rd generation Stained Glass artist who began his career in the Portland area in 1949. As a teenager, he had trained at the Art Institute of Amsterdam, and worked in his grandfather and father’s glass studios in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Following the end of World War II, Bert came to the United States, in 1947. He was granted a scholarship to the University of Washington, in Seattle, for chemistry, but soon left the university for a career in stained glass. He moved to Portland and worked for 3 years for W.P. Fuller Paint and Glass Company, in the Stained Glass department. He married Alice Knott, with whom he would have five children; Mark, Jan, Pam, Michele, and Carolyn.
Bert Willemse was a 3rd generation Stained Glass artist who began his career in the Portland area in 1949. As a teenager, he had trained at the Art Institute of Amsterdam, and worked in his grandfather and father’s glass studios in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Following the end of World War II, Bert came to the United States, in 1947. He was granted a scholarship to the University of Washington, in Seattle, for chemistry, but soon left the university for a career in stained glass. He moved to Portland and worked for 3 years for W.P. Fuller Paint and Glass Company, in the Stained Glass department. He married Alice Knott, with whom he would have five children; Mark, Jan, Pam, Michele, and Carolyn.
Bert began his own studio in 1951. Willemse Stained Glass studio was first located in Burlington, Oregon, then Scappoose, Oregon, which was the business location from 1961 until shortly after Bert’s death in 1974. The studio produced fine stained glass (pictorial) windows, thick faceted design glass windows, etched glass, lamps, and more.
Bert began his own studio in 1951. Willemse Stained Glass studio was first located in Burlington, Oregon, then Scappoose, Oregon, which was the business location from 1961 until shortly after Bert’s death in 1974. The studio produced fine stained glass (pictorial) windows, thick faceted design glass windows, etched glass, lamps, and more.
First employees included Bert’s brother, Peter Willemse, artist Aimee Gorham, Roger Wandrey, Les Cole, Darrel Durfee, and Jim Beasley. Alice Willemse was the bookkeeper for the business. Sons Mark and Jan also worked part time as teenagers. Later, Joene Lockhoven designed windows at the Scappoose studio, and Gene Stallings worked and later purchased the business from Alice following Bert’s passing, in 1974. Willemse Glass continues today as a home and auto glass retailer.
First employees included Bert’s brother, Peter Willemse, artist Aimee Gorham, Roger Wandrey, Les Cole, Darrel Durfee, and Jim Beasley. Alice Willemse was the bookkeeper for the business. Sons Mark and Jan also worked part time as teenagers. Later, Joene Lockhoven designed windows at the Scappoose studio, and Gene Stallings worked and later purchased the business from Alice following Bert’s passing, in 1974. Willemse Glass continues today as a home and auto glass retailer.
In the years Bert operated the stained glass studio, it produced hundreds of art windows for churches, homes, and businesses around Portland, and across the states of Oregon and Washington. His work is also in Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and northern California.
In the years Bert operated the stained glass studio, it produced hundreds of art windows for churches, homes, and businesses around Portland, and across the states of Oregon and Washington. His work is also in Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and northern California.
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