Dennis Van Vuren, aka Santa Claus A kind, thoughtful man who said he believed the true spirit of Christmas is love, brought Santa Claus to life for thousands of children and who sang “Jingle Bells” with great enthusiasm is dead at age 53.

For 23 years, Dennis Van Vuren parked his sled outside Toys R Us at Janss Marketplace in nearby Thousand Oaks, where he portrayed Santa Claus for children.

Kids from all over came to see him. He would sing Christmas and Hanukkah songs.

If a child wished for cash, he would remind him he was only a toymaker. He was gentle with those who asked for “Mommy to get well” or other items Santa couldn’t deliver. He spoke in sign language to the hearingimpaired.

Children who came as babies continued to visit him each year throughout their lives and into adulthood.

He was a family tradition. Children who once sat on his lap, brought their children.

“Most kids who met him believed that he was the ‘real’ Santa,” Terry Graves said.

Graves and his wife first met Van Vuren when they brought their golden retriever to see Santa 23 years ago. The next year they brought their daughter Amber, now 22. She was followed by Evan, 19, and Alana, 17. They went every year to take family Christmas photos with Santa, bringing their family dogs along, Graves said.

Van Vuren would also come to their home as Irish the Clown and entertain at their children’s birthday parties. He also came as himself, a dear friend.

One Christmas Eve, Santa even came over to their house “accidentally,” waking up the children as he put gifts out under their tree.

That night he told the children stories, sang for them and gave them presents.

“The kids will never forget that magical night,” Terry Graves said.

“He loved to see the light in children’s eyes,” his former wife, Terri Decker. said.

A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Van Vuren also loved acting and entertaining, she said.

He performed in commercials, made balloons at local restaurants and entertained at parties. He was the owner of a business called California Clowns.

He was the “greatest dad” who frequently took them to Disneyland and Magic Mountain, said his daughter Erin.

“He loved everybody. He said what made his life so special was his daughters and bringing joy to people at Christmas,” she said.

Van Vuren grew up in Florida and spent his youth in Chicago. He came to California while serving in the military. That’s where he met Terri, a native Californian. They were married 29 years, she said.

A Simi Valley resident, Van Vuren had a heart attack on May 28 and died on May 30. He was battling diabetes and high blood pressure, Decker said.

He died at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center.

He had a heart attack after Christmas and was supposed to go see a cardiac doctor, but never found the time, Erin said.

In addition to Erin, 25, Van Vuren is survived by another daughter, Elyssa, 17. He was a caretaker to his father Harold Van Vuren, 88, who lived with him. His mother, Shirley, died in 1994 of a heart attack. He is also survived by his brothers, Bobby Van Vuren of California and David Van Vuren of Florida.

A memorial service will be held for Van Vuren at 5:30 p.m. Sat., June 12, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1636 Sinaloa Road in Simi Valley.

“He was a Christian who enjoyed sharing the story of Jesus and would remind people that ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’ and that Christmas was about love,” Decker said.