Vander Well, Herman Donald 1931-2022

VANDERWELL, BLOEM, CALLFAS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/4/2022 at 18:48:55

Herman “Bud” Vander Well, 91, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars. Reverend Eric Sayonkon will officiate. Burial with military honors provided by the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 in Le Mars will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from noon until service time on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Bud’s name to the American Legion Wasmer Post 241 in Le Mars.

Herman Donald Vander Well, the son of Herman and Everdina (Bloem) Vander Well, was born on July 1, 1931, in Boyden, Iowa. He attended grade school in Maurice, Iowa, before moving to Le Mars and graduating from Le Mars Central High School in 1950.

Bud enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1951. After Boot Camp and Commissary School, he served one year on the LST 825 and two and half years in the LCU Squadrons one and three. While in the Navy, he served at Pearl Harbor, Japan, Korea, and French Indo China (now known as Vietnam). He was honorably discharged in November of 1954 at the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5).

After the service, he attended Westmar College in Le Mars for one year. In August of 1956, he was united in marriage to Jane Callfas in Le Mars. After their marriage, they moved to Ames, Iowa, where he earned his BS degree in Animal Science. He went to work with Swift and Company in their beef department, retiring after 32 years with the company. While with Swift, the family lived in Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Iowa. He was then employed by the USDA Meat Grading Service as an Acceptance and Certification Expert for 15 years.

In his free time, he enjoyed being a Junior Achievement Councilor, Cub Scout Pack Leader, and a member of the J.C.’s. Bud was head usher in three different Methodist Churches over a 23-year period and served on several committees. Bud was very active in the American Legion. He was Past Commander as well as Chaplain and Boys State Representative for the Wasmer Post 241 in Le Mars. He also was Past Commander, Past Sergeant at Arms, and Past Adjutant for the Plymouth County American Legion. He’s been a board member of the Plymouth County Veterans Memorial Park for the past 17 years and was a charter member of the Korean War Last Man's Club.

Bud enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, wood working, telling a good joke or story, and socializing. Walleye fishing and target shooting were his favorite outdoor sports.

Survivors include his wife, Jane Vander Well of Le Mars; his three children, Don Vander Well, Dan (Donna) Vander Well, and Victoria Vander Well. Two grandchildren: Jacki (Kerry) Blackerby and Jeremy Vander Well. Two great-grandchildren: Shyanne and Hudson Blackerby. His brother Dean (Jeanne) Vander Well, brother-in-law Jim (Karol) Callfas, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws Nelson and Madeline Callfas.

~Funeral Home Obituary