Vander Hart, Paul Hugo

VANDER HART, NIBBELINK, VANDER MOLEN, ROOZEBOOM

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2005 at 21:08:35

Funeral services for Paul Hugo Vander Hart, 75, of Pella, who died on Sunday, October 22, 2000, at Pella Regional Health Center, were held on Wednesday, October 25 at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Rev. Kenneth Schepel officiated at the services with Rev. Isaac Meuzelaar assisting. Lois Lanser was organist.

Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were grandsons Shawn and Jason Beyer, Ethan Vander Hart, Jesse, Joshua, Lucas and Nathan Hall, and Brant and Matthew Ver Meer. Honorary bearers were granddaughters Emily, Leah, Alicia and Victoria Vander Hart, Wendy, Becky and Suzanna Hall and Nicole Ver Meer.

Paul was born on September 21, 1925, near Peoria, to Gerrit and Bertha (Nibbelink) Vander Hart. He attended the Hickory Grove Country Grade School from which he graduated in 1937 and in later years received his G.E.D. He entered the military service and served with the Merchant Marines for one year.

He married Greda Vander Molen on June of 1946 in Peoria and to this union one daughter was born. Greda passed away in 1947. Then on February 16, 1949, Paul married Henrietta Roozeboom near Tracy. To this union four children were born.

Paul re-entered the Merchant Marines and served for another year. Following this he began farming. He was employed at the Mobil Gas Service Station and then the Pella Canning Factory. Paul and Henrietta moved to Newton where Paul worked as a bricklayer, did plastering and later owned a flower shop for eight years. They later moved back to Pella where they managed the Dutch Buffet, Roller Rink and Bowling Alley for 7 years. Paul then was employed at the Rolscreen Company for 16 years.

In 1980, he started the Lower Grove Sorghum Mill near Peoria. He continued in this operation until his health began to fail. He then began doing volunteer work in Cary, Miss. and later started making wooden toys for the needy, a ministry which became known as the "With Love Toy Ministry". He received much pleasure in doing this and continued doing so as long as his health permitted.

Paul was a member of Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella where he was a charter member. For several years, he had been a member of the Pella Lions Club.

Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Greda; two grandsons, Scott Wayne Beyer and John Edwin Hall; his parents; a brother, Godert Vander Hart; and four sisters, Jeanetta Campbell, Anna Langstraat, Helen Mitchel and Wilma Slykhuis.

He is survived by his wife, Henrietta; two sons and and daughters-in-law, Gary W. and Fern Vander Hart of Fridley, Minn. and Bradley P. and Traci Vander Hart of Pella; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda K. and Melvin Beyer of Russellville, Ark., Bonnie M. and Ed Hall of Boone and Debra E. and Douglas Ver Meer of Montezuma; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Stoffel Vander Hart of Knoxville and Case A. Vander Hart of Pella; and a sister, Marie Meulpolder of El Sabrante, Calif..

Memorials may be made to the With Love Toy Ministry.

Arrangements were made by VanDyk-Duven Funeral Home.

Knoxville Journal Express, October 30, 2000