Vande Wall, Gilbert J. 1919-2001

VANDE WALL, KATSMA, VAN WYK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2005 at 21:16:38

PELLA - Gilbert J. Vande Wall, 82, of Pella, died Monday, April 23, at Metropolitan Medical Center in Des Moines.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Kenneth A. Dykstra officiating, the Rev. Ronald Sikkema assisting. Burial: Graceland Cemetery near Pella, with military rites by American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella. Memorials: Memorial Fund of First Reformed Church, or Crossroads of Pella. Visiting hours are open at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home until 4 p.m. today; the family will greet visitors 6:30-8 p.m. today at the church.

Gilbert John "Gib" Vande Wall was born April 9, 1919, on a farm near Leighton, to John P. and Sarah Katsma Vande Wall. He attended elementary school in Leighton, and began working as a full-time farm hand at age 16.

In 1941 he was drafted into the United States Army during World War II, and served the next four years as a medic, drill instructor and with the military police.

He married Freda Rosena Van Wyk on Aug. 16, 1945, at her parents' home near Peoria. They lived in Pella, and two years later moved to a farm near Monroe. In 1950 they settled on a farm north of Pella in the Galesburg neighborhood. Over the next 30 years they raised their family and began general farming on a small scale and later specializing in confinement hog production.

In 1978 they moved into Pella, and they sold the farm in 1989. Gib was a bowler. He was a member of First Reformed Church in Pella. He was a member of the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella, and had served as a past commander. He was a handyman, fixing various items people brought to him.

He is survived by his wife, Freda; three children and spouses: Nela J. and Charles H. Spoelstra of Pella, Carol L. and Sam Bidrawn of Naperville, Ill., and Wayne A. and Debbie Vande Wall of Weston, Fla.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Angeline (Mrs. James) Harvey; and a brother and sister-in-law: Edward and Anna Vande Wall of Oskaloosa.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Corwin (Corey) John Spoelstra; his parents; and brothers and sisters: Peter Vande Wall, Albert Vande Wall, Anna (Cyrus) Louwsma, Gertie (Bastian) Van Woerkom, Henry Vande Wall, Bessie (Jake) Meinders, Kathryn (Henry) Nieuwsma and Clifford Vande Wall.

The Oskaloosa Herald, April 25, 2001