Vander Linden, Kenneth Herman 1916-2006

VANDER LINDEN, BOGAARD, VANDER WILT, ROORDA

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/29/2006 at 21:01:43

Kenneth Herman Vander Linden was born on December 11, 1916, near Pella, Iowa. He was the first of two children born to Luke and Grace Bogaard Vander Linden, the second being his sister, Sara Rose. Kenneth graduated from grade school in Pella and then attended Pella High School.

As a young boy, Kenneth enjoyed helping his dad on the farm with chores, raising pigs and doing fieldwork. This interest had a lasting impact on Kenneth's life, an occupation he fondly pursued the remainder of his life. Kenneth's family were members of the First Reformed Church in Pella where he made profession of his faith and met his wife to be, Carolyn Marjorie Roorda, a daughter of Epp and Cornelia Vander Wilt Roorda.

They were united in marriage in the same house where she was born near Harvey, Iowa on January 19, 1940. The new couple lived in Pella for three years and then moved to a farm northwest of Pella. Kenneth and Carolyn were blessed with two children: Bonnie Lou, who was born on February 21, 1943 and Leo Keith, who was born on April 26, 1945.

In 1950, when Kenneth's parents moved into Pella, Kenneth and Carolyn and their family moved to the family farm one mile west of Pella on the Fifield Road. In addition to the fieldwork, Kenneth enjoyed feeding cattle, farrowing pigs and raising many hogs; while Carolyn raised a large garden of vegetables, fruits and flowers. In 1966, as the City of Pella sought out land to expand for an eventual airport and later the State of Iowa additional land for eventual highway by-pass, fewer and fewer acres were available to farm and likewise not as many livestock chores. Kenneth still farmed a few acres and for hobbies he enjoyed fishing, tinkering with his machinery and caring for a very large farmyard. In 1992 Kenneth and Carolyn decided it was time to move into town. Having been on the farm for over 40 years farming was not only a way of life but his life, it was a big decision to plan a farm sale and move into Westview Apartments in Pella. Driving out to the farm each day though for a while was good therapy for Kenneth and soon the apartment was really "home".

The family was saddened on November 26, 2000 when Leo Vander Linden passed away at the age of just 55 years following many years of suffering with Multiple Sclerosis. One month following Leo's death, Kenneth and Carolyn both became residents in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella. Kenneth passed away there on Monday afternoon, March 20, 2006 at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 9 days.

Surviving is his wife of 66 years, Carolyn, who continues to be cared for in the Sheltered Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center; a daughter and son-in-law and a daughter-in-law; 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They and their families are: Bonnie L. and Howard Westerkamp of Pella, Iowa.

Of his original family Kenneth leaves his sister, Sara Rose Vander Beek, presently of Pella; and a brother-in-law, Henry C. Roorda and his wife, Esther of Pella.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his son, Leo K. Vander Linden in 2000; his parents: his father, Luke H. Vander Linden who died in 1953 and his mother, Grace Vander Linden in 1982; and his brother-in-law, Abe Vander Beek who passed away in 1981 at the age of 59 years. Kenneth was baptized at the First Reformed Church in Pella on April 1, 1917.

First Reformed Church in Pella was always a very important part of his life. He served in many positions, on the consistory, sang in the choir and thoroughly enjoyed singing the bass part in a men's quartet. He had a special love for quartet music. God has been good in many ways, giving him many years of married life, many good friends four couples of whom they shared many special events and times together, and lots of good memories.

For those desiring memorials may be designated for the First Reformed Church of Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, April 20, 2006