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Henry Van Gemert, Jr. 84 passed away after a long illness with his family by his side. Van, as he was known to his friends and many customers, came to Palmetto in 1972 and bought the Ramada Inn on Hwy 41. He then renamed it the Bayshore Inn. Van also owned Van's Restaurant Equipment in Ellenton for over 20 years. Van would say there weren't too many restaurants in Manatee and Sarasota County that he hadn't sold to. Henry was Past-President of the American Merchant Marine Veterans Sarasota/Manatee Chapter. Henry was the co-chair of the "Just Compensation" cause. Before coming to Palmetto, Henry ran his own house building company in Connecticut and was one of the last Commercial Dragger fishermen to work in New York Sound. Henry was born in Boston and served in the Merchant Marine thru WWII. Van leaves behind his wife of 44 years Peggy, and two sons Henry Van Gemert III of the Philippines, Dr. Barry Van Gemert and his wife Vicky of Pennsylvania. Two daughters Ginger Van Gemert of Palmetto, Martha Lyne-Hallock and her husband Frank of Ellenton. Nine grandchildren: Tom of Pennsylvania, Wayne of Russia, Clint of New York, Amanda of Bradenton, Henry IV of California, Cody & Ashley of Ellenton, Mary Jane of Bradenton, Jacqueline of the Philippines, and 5 great-grandchildren: Amaya of Palmetto, Lillianna of Bradenton, Ian & Ruthie of Bradenton and Henry V of California. Visitation will be at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home, 720 Manatee Avenue West Friday August 8, 2008 from 10:00-11:00a.m. followed by the service at 11:00. Military honors will be at 2:30p.m. Friday at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Just Compensation Committee, P O Box M05 Santa Rosa CA 95402.