Bert Vander Naald 1904 - 1987

VANDER NAALD, BUNGER, DURST

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 3/1/2014 at 18:49:57

Onawa Democrat, Onawa, (Monona), Iowa, 15 Oct 1987:

BERT VANDER NAALD

Bert Vander Naald, age 83, of Mapleton, Iowa, died on Wednesday, September 30, 1987.

Bert Vander Naald was born on August 29, 1904, in Sioux County, near Boyden, Iowa. He graduated from the Northwestern Academy in Orange City, Iowa, and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Central College in Pella in 1926. Bert started his administrative career as a school superintendent in Maurice, Iowa, that fall. On October 30, 1931, he married Cathryn Bunger of Donas, South Dakota. On February 13, 1936, they adopted a daughter, Joan Elizabeth.

Bert received a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration from the Iowa State University in 1934. He served as superintendent at Schaller, Iowa, from 1932 until 1937. During his term as administrator there, a new high school and gymnasium was built. From there, he served as superintendent at the Mapleton Consolidated Schools from 1937 to 1944. Under his guidance, a new gymnasium was built. Mr. Vander Naald was Monona County Extension Agent in 1944 and 1945. During the next two years, Bert served as high school principal at Osage. On August 1, 1947, he purchased the Ben Franklin Store in Mapleton, Iowa. Van’s was opened in 1960 and it was renamed and remodeled in 1986, as Van’s Fashion Boutique.

His wife, Cathryn, died on November 6, 1970. The following year he married Lola Otto Durst on October 23, 1971.

Mr. Vander Naald was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday Schoo, was delegate to the annual conference for over twenty-five years, and served on the Administrative Board for many years. He was a member of the Wesley Foundation Board of Directors, affiliated with the University of Iowa in Iowa City, President’s Club of Central College, Willow Dale Golf Club, Past President of the Mapleton Club and chairman of the Retail Committee for many years. Bert was elected to the Maple Valley School Board and served on the Park Board and the Maple Crest Apartments Board in Mapleton, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Lola; a daughter, Joan Egeves of Story City; a stepson, William Durst of Des Moines, Ia.; a sister, Jeannette of Hospers; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Grant of Lubbock, Texas, Pamela Grant of West Des Moines, Ia., Elizabeth Grant of Ames, Ia., Jennifer Grant of Boone, Sandra (Durst) Hansen of Des Moines, Ia., Douglas Durst of Overland Park, Kansas and Sara Durst of Campbell, Calif.; and one great granddaughter, Anna Egeves of Sharon Center, Ia.

Employees of Van’s Ben Franklin were the honorary group.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, October 3, 1987, at 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Mapleton, Iowa, with Pastor Dick Krambeck officiating. Arrangements were made under the direction of the Walter Funeral Home in Mapleton, Iowa.