Roger Vanhoo
Last weekend we said goodbye to Roger Vanhoo. With a heart full of sadness and pride, we would like to share this letter with the Vanomobil Family.
In 1989, the motorhome hype was already in full swing in the USA, but it remained a niche product in Europe. Roger Vanhoo returned from a holiday at the United States and was convinced that this hype would also spread to our region.
Roger, 66 years old, was already active at the car dealerships Renault in Menen and Mitsubishi in Mouscron. He also distributed caravans in Rumbeke. He didn't have to think that much outside his comfort zone, because both the car knowledge and the experience of construction were present in his existing three companies.
Jumping into a new adventure at the age of 66, who could do that?! But he was determined for himself and for his two eldest children, one of them being his 16 year old daughter Véronique, to make it work! He wanted to guarantee them with a good start in life by helping her start a business. And so he founded Vanomobil that same year: a company that distributed both caravans and motorhomes.
The milestones followed each other in quick succession: in 1993, 21-year-old Véronique started her career in the family business. In 1997, she and her husband Ignace Coudron officially took over the company. Roger (then 74 years old) continues to support them with his business experience and knowledge. He manages to be present and still grant his children the freedom to be entrepreneurial, a gift that is given to few in family transfers. Since moving to the new showroom further down the street in Wevelgem, he has started to let go of his beloved Vanomobil little by little. After all, he could see that his latest project was in good hands. From then on he could finally spend more time with the love of his life and enjoy his growing grandchildren.
The last three years were marked by the rapidly progressing dementia of his wife Jenny until her death last year. Old age and the loss his supporting rock weighed heavily. Those close to him saw him quietly longing for the reunion with his beloved Jenny, with whom he had been together for more than 60 years. On the night of Friday 3 to 4 July, Roger quietly extinguished in his sleep like a candle. He was 97 years old. Few have had the opportunity to live as actively and positively touch and influence so many people as him.
We are exceptionally proud to call Roger Vanhoo a father, father-in-law, grandfather and founder of our beloved Vanomobil.
Véronique & Ignace, the children and the whole family
