VanderTuig, George F. 1919-2007

VANDERTUIG, VANDERKOOI, JANSSEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2009 at 17:05:18

LE MARS, Iowa -- George F. Vander Tuig, 87, of Le Mars passed away Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 of Le Mars. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

George F. Vander Tuig was born Dec. 19, 1919, in Ireton, Iowa, to Nick and Susie (Vander Kooi) Vander Tuig. He was baptized at the Christian Reformed Church in Ireton and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in rural Le Mars. He graduated from Ireton High School in 1938. On Aug. 12, 1938, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served overseas as a radio operator during World War II. He was involved in heavy action in the southern Pacific Theater, surviving the sinking of his ship near Sicily and was part of the D-Day Invasion. He earned the Purple Heart Medal. He was honorably discharged on May 31, 1949.

On Dec. 28, 1944, he and Martha Janssen were united in marriage at Christ Lutheran Church in rural Le Mars. Following his military service, the couple made their home in Kenosha, Wis., where they owned and operated Clear Vue TV. When the Le Mars area first received television signals in 1953, they moved their business to Le Mars. They operated Clear Vue TV until 1982.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he served as council president, taught Sunday School and ushered for many years. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion Wasmer Post 241, the Rotary International and served in the first board of director at Brentwood.

Survivors include his wife, Martha; a daughter and her husband, Sharyl and the Rev. Curtis Miller of Cottonwood, Minn.; two sons and their wives, the Rev. Stephen and Jane of Hampton, Neb., and the Rev. Mark and Candice of Altoona, Iowa; and grandchildren, Eric and Dawn Miller and their children, Sebastian and Charlotte of Portland, Ore., Nathan and Sarah Miller and their children, Soren and Lydia of Eau Claire, Wis., the Rev. Paul and Marie Miller of Fargo, N.D., Adam Vander Tuig of Grand Island, Neb., Marci Vander Tuig of Lincoln, Neb., Laura Vander Tuig of Des Moines and Emily Vander Tuig of Altoona, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four sisters.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Feb. 16, 2007