Lois June Gouwens: The Powerful Family Story Behind Angelina Jolie’s Maternal Roots

Lois June Gouwens holds an important place in one of Hollywood’s most recognised family trees. She was the mother of actress and humanitarian Marcheline Bertrand and the maternal grandmother of Angelina Jolie and James Haven. Although Lois did not build a career in film or seek fame, her family connection has made her life a subject of lasting interest.

Born in Illinois in 1928, Lois lived through the Great Depression, the Second World War and the major social changes of post-war America. She married Rolland Frances Bertrand and raised three children before the family moved from Illinois to California. Her life ended in 1973, when she was only 45 years old.

Her story is not one of celebrity success. Instead, it is a family story shaped by ancestry, marriage, motherhood, migration and an enduring legacy.

Quick Facts About Lois June Gouwens

Detail	Fact
Full name	Lois June Gouwens Bertrand
Birth name	Lois June Gouwens
Date of birth	14 February 1928
Birthplace	South Holland, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Nationality	American
Father	Roel Garrett Gouwens, also recorded as Roy Gerrit Gouwens
Mother	Virginia Amelia Jean Kasha
Husband	Rolland Frances Bertrand
Marriage date	1 June 1949
Children	Marcheline Bertrand, Debra Jeanne Bertrand and Rolland Roy Bertrand
Famous granddaughter	Angelina Jolie
Famous grandson	James Haven
Date of death	11 November 1973
Age at death	45
Place of death	Los Angeles County, California
Burial place	Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois

Who Was Lois June Gouwens?

Lois June Gouwens was an American woman whose name later became connected with Hollywood through her daughter and granddaughter. She was born into the Gouwens family in South Holland, a village in Cook County, Illinois.

She became known as Lois June Bertrand after marrying Rolland Frances Bertrand. The couple created a family life in the Chicago area before relocating to California during the 1960s.

Unlike later members of her family, Lois was not an actress, producer or entertainer. No confirmed professional career has been preserved in the main family records. Her central role was within the Bertrand household, where she raised two daughters and one son.

Why Her Name Remains Important

Her historical importance comes from her position in Angelina Jolie’s maternal family line. Lois was the mother of Marcia Lynne Bertrand, better known as Marcheline Bertrand.

Marcheline later became an actress, producer and humanitarian. Through Marcheline’s marriage to actor Jon Voight, Lois became the grandmother of actors James Haven and Angelina Jolie.

This connection has placed Lois within a family that later became famous across the world. However, her own life took place largely outside the entertainment industry.

Lois June Gouwens’ Early Life and Background

Lois was born on 14 February 1928 in South Holland, Illinois. The area was home to many families with Dutch roots, and the Gouwens surname reflects that heritage.

Her father was Roel Garrett Gouwens, whose name was also written as Roy Gerrit Gouwens in some family documents. He was born in 1905 and died in 1951. Her mother, Virginia Amelia Jean Kasha, was born in 1909 and died in 1962.

Lois therefore experienced the loss of both parents before reaching middle age. Her father died when she was about 23, while her mother died when Lois was about 34.

Her Dutch and European Heritage

The Gouwens side of the family had Dutch roots. The surname has long-standing connections with the Netherlands and with Dutch-American communities in Illinois.

Her mother’s Kasha family line has been linked with Polish and Central European ancestry. Through Lois, these European roots passed to Marcheline Bertrand and later to Angelina Jolie and James Haven.

Marcheline also inherited French-Canadian ancestry from her father, Rolland Bertrand. As a result, the next generations carried a blend of Dutch, Polish, German and French-Canadian family traditions.

Growing Up During a Difficult Period

Lois was born shortly before the Great Depression began in 1929. Her childhood unfolded during a period marked by financial hardship across the United States.

She was also a teenager during the Second World War. These events shaped the lives of her generation, placing strong value on family, duty, resilience and stable home life.

Details about her school years, childhood interests and early ambitions have not survived in accessible records. Claims about these areas should therefore not be treated as fact.

Marriage to Rolland Frances Bertrand

Lois married Rolland Frances Bertrand on 1 June 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. She was 21 years old, while Rolland was 25.

Rolland was born on 6 June 1923. His family had strong French-Canadian roots, giving the Bertrand household a rich mixture of European heritage.

The marriage joined the Dutch-American Gouwens family with the French-Canadian Bertrand family. After the wedding, Lois used the name Lois June Bertrand.

Life in Riverdale, Illinois

The couple lived in Riverdale, Cook County, during the early years of their marriage. Riverdale sits south of Chicago and close to Lois’s birthplace in South Holland.

Their eldest daughter was born in 1950. The family remained connected with the Chicago area during the childhood years of their three children.

Lois and Rolland later moved the household to Beverly Hills, California, in 1965. This move gave their eldest daughter access to new educational and creative opportunities.

Lois June Gouwens’ Children and Family Life

Lois and Rolland had at least three children: two daughters and one son. Their children were Marcia Lynne Bertrand, Debra Jeanne Bertrand and Rolland Roy Bertrand.

Marcia, born on 9 May 1950, later adopted the professional name Marcheline Bertrand. Debra was born in 1952, while Rolland Roy was born in 1955. The son was also known within family accounts as Raleigh.

Marcheline Bertrand

Marcheline became the best-known of Lois’s children. After moving to California, she attended Beverly Hills High School and later studied acting.

She appeared in a small number of television and film productions. Her work included a role in the television drama Ironside and appearances in Lookin’ to Get Out and The Man Who Loved Women.

Marcheline later became more active as a producer and humanitarian. She supported Native American communities and worked to raise awareness of women’s cancers.

Debra Jeanne Bertrand

Lois’s younger daughter, Debra Jeanne Bertrand, lived from 1952 until 2013. Debra remained much more private than Marcheline and did not pursue a major Hollywood career.

She became part of the family’s difficult experience with cancer. Her death strengthened public awareness of the serious cancer history within Angelina Jolie’s maternal family.

Rolland Roy Bertrand

The youngest child was Rolland Roy Bertrand, born in 1955. Some accounts refer to him as Raleigh Bertrand.

He also stayed outside the entertainment spotlight. He died in California in February 2009 at the age of 53.

Relationship With Angelina Jolie

Lois was Angelina Jolie’s maternal grandmother. However, the two never met because Lois died in November 1973, while Angelina was born on 4 June 1975.

Angelina grew up hearing about the women in her mother’s family. The early deaths of her grandmother and mother became especially meaningful as she learnt more about hereditary cancer risks.

Marcheline died in 2007 at the age of 56 after facing ovarian and breast cancer. Her sister Debra also developed cancer. These family experiences later influenced Angelina’s medical choices and her work promoting women’s health awareness.

Grandmother of James Haven

Lois was also the maternal grandmother of James Haven, Marcheline’s eldest child. James was born in May 1973, several months before Lois died.

He later became an actor and producer. Like Angelina, James shared a close bond with their mother and supported charitable causes connected with the family.

Age, Appearance and Physical Features

Lois was born in February 1928 and died in November 1973. She was 45 years old at the time of her death.

Verified details about her height, weight, eye colour and other physical features have not been preserved. Any exact measurements published without original documents should be viewed with care.

A small number of family photographs show a well-presented woman with dark hair and a composed manner. Photographs alone cannot provide reliable measurements or a full account of her personality.

Cause of Death and Final Years

Lois died on 11 November 1973 in Los Angeles County, California. Some family-related accounts place her death in Beverly Hills.

Later articles connect her death with cancer, and Angelina Jolie has spoken about a strong history of cancer on her mother’s side. However, the exact diagnosis attached to Lois’s death is not firmly confirmed in the key civil entries.

For this reason, it is safer to state that she died young and that cancer affected multiple women in her family. Naming a precise form of cancer as certain would go beyond the strongest surviving evidence.

Burial in Illinois

Although Lois died in California, she was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Cook County, Illinois.

Her burial in Illinois brought her back to the state where she had been born, raised and married. It also preserved her connection with the Chicago-area communities that shaped much of her life.

Career and Private Life

No verified occupation or professional achievement has been attached to Lois. She did not work as a recognised actress, writer, producer or business leader.

Her life belonged to a generation in which many women devoted a large part of adulthood to managing the home and raising children. It would be unfair to invent a career merely to make her biography seem more dramatic.

A Life Beyond Hollywood Fame

Lois died before Angelina Jolie became a global film star. She also died before Marcheline completed most of her acting and humanitarian work.

Her connection with Hollywood is therefore based on family legacy rather than personal fame. This distinction is important when presenting her story with accuracy and respect.

The Lasting Legacy of Lois June Gouwens

Her legacy survives through generations of the Bertrand-Jolie family. Her daughter Marcheline became known for compassion, motherhood and humanitarian service.

Her granddaughter Angelina developed an international career in acting, film-making and humanitarian work. Angelina has also spoken openly about inherited health risks, helping many women think seriously about family medical history.

Lois’s story reminds us that an influential family legacy does not always begin with fame. It can begin quietly through parenthood, heritage and the values passed from one generation to another.

Conclusion

Lois June Gouwens lived a short but meaningful life. Born in Illinois in 1928, she married Rolland Frances Bertrand, raised three children and later moved with her family to California.

She is remembered as the mother of Marcheline Bertrand and the maternal grandmother of Angelina Jolie and James Haven. Although many parts of her personal life remain private, her confirmed family history gives her a clear place within a remarkable American family.

Her name represents Dutch-American heritage, family strength and a legacy that reached far beyond her own lifetime. Through her children and grandchildren, her place in cultural history continues.

FAQs

1. Who was Lois June Gouwens?

Lois June Gouwens was the mother of actress and humanitarian Marcheline Bertrand. She was also the maternal grandmother of Angelina Jolie and James Haven.

2. When was Lois June Gouwens born?

Lois June Gouwens was born on 14 February 1928 in South Holland, Cook County, Illinois, United States.

3. Who was Lois June Gouwens married to?

Lois June Gouwens married Rolland Frances Bertrand on 1 June 1949. The couple had three children: Marcheline Bertrand, Debra Jeanne Bertrand and Rolland Roy Bertrand.

4. When did Lois June Gouwens die?

Lois June Gouwens died on 11 November 1973 in Los Angeles County, California. She was 45 years old at the time of her death.