A remarkable family reunion unfolded at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago when Ron Achterhof met his sister, Gillian Taarland, for the first time. This emotional encounter came 80 years after they were separated due to the events of World War II.
Gillian Taarland, who traveled from Bali, was greeted by Ron and his wife, Teri Achterhof, as she arrived at the airport. A camera crew from a local Chicago news station captured the moment, along with numerous onlookers who were drawn by the palpable excitement in the air.
When Gillian faced her brother, she instinctively stood up to embrace him, despite Ron’s gentle reminder to remain seated. The connection was immediate and heartfelt. “It felt like a dream,” Gillian shared after the reunion. Throughout her life, she had been unaware of Ron’s existence and had long searched for information about their father, Hank Achterhof, who served in the U.S. Army during the war.
“My mother never spoke about him,” Gillian explained in her British accent. “The siblings said he died in the war. But he didn’t.” Ron clarified that their father lived until the age of 95, having been wounded in France around the time of D-Day. He later had a brief relationship with Gillian’s mother before returning to the United States to start a family with Ron’s mother.
Ron expressed his surprise at learning he had a sister. “My father knew nothing about having a child in England during the war,” he said. “He never talked about it at all. So I never knew I had a sister there all these years.”
The quest to uncover their family history took an unexpected turn when Gillian’s son, Giles Taarland, initiated a search on a genealogy website. Tracing their roots back to 1564 in Norway, Giles found little information on his mother’s side, leading to a series of dead ends.
“I just stopped searching,” Gillian admitted. Yet, after years of uncertainty, she found herself in a new reality. “I had been searching for so long. And now, we’re here.”
Emotional Connections and Family Traits
For the first time, Ron and Gillian shared a home for a night, coincidentally on the 11th anniversary of their father’s passing. “Ain’t that something because I just met my sister,” Ron remarked in his Chesterton home. He noted the physical similarities they shared, pointing out, “She has a lot of our father’s traits and looks. The eyes and the nose.” Gillian humorously added, “And the wavy hair,” as she stroked her locks.
“I feel like I’ve hit the lottery,” Ron said, expressing the joy of finding his sister. Giles, who had accompanied Gillian from Bali, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Even on the flight, I couldn’t believe we were coming here.”
Reflecting on their unique circumstances, Ron noted, “My sister was born in England, and came here from Bali, and she’s now in Chesterton, Indiana, of all places.” He praised the bond they shared, saying, “I couldn’t have picked out a better sister and nephew to have in my life.”
The reunion was initiated by a family cousin from Texas, a history teacher who resumed the online search. “She called me to say, ‘You have a sister,’ and I said, ‘You got to be kidding me!’” Ron recalled. Their first meeting took place over a FaceTime call, where both siblings were astounded by the connection.
“I’ve waited 80 years for this,” Gillian said, reflecting on the significance of their meeting. “At our age, you’d think there would be no more surprises in life, right?”
Future Family Gatherings
As they embrace this newfound relationship, the family plans to host an open house at the Achterhof home next weekend. This gathering will welcome extended family and new cousins they have yet to meet, as well as any other relatives who wish to join.
“I’m just so happy for my husband,” Teri Achterhof said. “He is truly blessed to find out he’s got a sister.” Meanwhile, Giles, an NFL fan who has never visited Chicago, learned that his grandfather had worked for the Chicago Parks District, including roles at Soldier Field. He hopes to attend the upcoming Bears game against the Cowboys.
Originally, Ron and Gillian had considered waiting until March to meet for Ron’s 80th birthday. However, they opted for a sooner reunion, as Gillian found the cold weather in Indiana challenging. “That’s why it took us a long time to get here Friday,” she joked.
Their emotional arrival at the airport was marked by thoughtful gestures, as Ron and Teri brought white wine, champagne, and a bouquet of roses to celebrate the occasion. “And tears, lots of tears,” Teri added, highlighting the profound emotions that accompanied this long-awaited reunion.
