Julia Boogaard
Former lakeside resident Julia Boogaard died Saturday, November 22.
Boogaard was born in the Netherlands, the third child of a well-known flower exporter. The family traveled throughout Europe on their father’s business trips.
While working as a receptionist in Noordwijk she met and married Koen Boogaard. They were the parents of a daughter and together founded a successful wholesale cosmetics business. Following the sale of the company in 1979, they moved to Costa Rica, which was then still “undiscovered.” They bought a house on a quiet beach in Tamarindo. After the couple separated in 1986, Boogard opened a combination tourist office, rental business and video store, and she rented space in the building so her daughter could open a bookstore. Her Tamarindo Rental Tours became an iconic place.
In the 1990s, she purchased a house at Lake Chapala and opened up a vacation rental business. With the years she spent more time in Mexico, and so sold the Costa Rica businesses, returning there just to visit her family.
By 2013 she was dividing the year between friends at lakeside and her family in California. Boogaard is remembered for her intelligence, her business sense, her passion for travel and her family, and as a pioneer of Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Boogaard suffered a stroke in 2013, and died 18 months later. She is survived by her daughter, Ilka; son-in-law, Warren; grandchildren Martin and Renee; and brother Pim.
Dennis N. Hamper
Dennis N. Hamper passed away November 4 at the age of 72.
Hamper was born July 21, 1942 in Yakima, Washington. The family moved to Seattle when Hamper was in his early teens. He played baseball at Queen Anne High School, graduating in 1960. After trying out for the San Francisco Giants and not making the cut, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Germany he met and married Lilo. After finishing with the military, they moved back to Seattle to raise their three daughters.
Hamper worked for Kraft Foods for many years. He started the Commissary Cash & Carry that grew to four stores in the Puget Sound area. After selling the business to United Grocers, Hamper opened the Crystal Gallery, and then the Wildwire Glass Blowing studio.
In 2011, Hamper and his wife moved to Lakeside, where he became a member of American Legion Post Seven.
Hamper had a larger than life personality, was a lot of fun to be around, and made friends wherever he went. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family who loved and respected him.
Hamper is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lilo: daughters Jeanette Wilkins (Brad), Teresa Brockway, Carmen Meyers (Rich); and grandchildren Meghan and Rebecca Wilkins, and Holli and Madison Meyers.