VAN SLYKE, Richard L.

VAN SLYKE, REYNOLDS, TRACY, STAUTER, STABELFELD, WHITE

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 8/31/2013 at 10:29:48

LAKE FUNERAL DIRECTOR VAN SLYKE DIES AT 58

CLEAR LAKE – Longtime Clear Lake funeral director Richard L. Van Slyke, 58, of 501 3rd Ave. N. died Friday (May 8, 1981) in a Mason City hospital.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev, Lyle W. Lieder and the Rev. William Holzer officiating. There will be cremation and interment in the Clear Lake Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation is after 2 p.m. Sunday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel and at the church prior to services. A Masonic service will be 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Mr. Van Slyke is survived by his wife, the former Shirley Reynolds; two daughters, Mrs. Jeri Ann Tracy, Allentown, Pa.; and Lisa Marie Van Slyke, Des Moines; one son, Richard Jeffrey Van Slyke, Clear Lake, and four grandchildren.

Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Meryl (Darlene) Stauter, Fonda, and Mrs. Elvin (Donna) Stabelfeld, Storm Lake, and a brother Darrell, Iowa Falls along with a grandmother , Mrs. Blanche White, Fonda.

Mr. Van Slyke was graduated from Fonda High School. He served as a pilot during World War II, and was graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Service in 1946. He started in the W. H. Ward Funeral Home in 1947.

After Mr. Ward’s death in 1955, he operated the funeral home as Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel until his death. In 1977 he also became affiliated with Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel in Mason City.

Mr. Van Slyke was active in many organizations, including the United Methodist Church of Clear Lake, the Masonic lodge, the VFW of which he was a past commander, the American Legion of which he was a past commander and American Veterans Association. Also the Clear Lake Lions of which he was past president and the Iowa Lions of which he was past district governor and council chairman.

He was president of the Iowa Funeral Home Directors Association in1968; was a member of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce; was first president of the North Central Iowa Heart Association and a past member of the Clear Lake School Board. He was also a longtime member of the All-Veterans Golf and Social Center.

He served as chairman of several noted events; including Governor’s Days, the Fall Festival and Fourth of July celebration.

In 1976, Mr. Van Slyke was named to a judicial nominating committee which selects county judicial magistrates.

He was noted for appearance in a variety of plays, especially for the Woman’s Club and the Lions Club TV Minstrel and TV Variety show.

NOTE – Mr. Van Slyke was born July 13, 1922