Vandenberg, Gale J. "Joe" (1920 – 2014)

VANDENBERG, VANDERHEIDON, KLOEWER, LITTY, LUCKASSEN, BONGERS, KANOUFF, BOHATY, STINN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/29/2014 at 13:19:27

Name of deceased: Gale Joseph "Joe" Vandenberg

Aged: 93 yrs, 10 mo, 12 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: June 11, 1920, David City, NE

Died: April 23, 2014, at home in Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, April 28, 2014, St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA.

Survived by: Wife of 72 years, Mildred Vandenberg of Harlan, IA; children, Mary Kloewer of Harlan, IA, Joseph (spouse, Rosemary)Vandenberg of Kirkman, IA, Allen (spouse, Diane )Vandenberg of Council Bluffs, IA, and Kathaleen (spouse, Lee) Stinn of Harlan, IA; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: parents, Arnold and Mary (nee Vanderheidon) Vandenberg; son, James; grandson, Gary Kloewer; all of Joe's brothers and sisters, Henrietta Litty, Martha Luckassen, Dorothy Bongers, Ardean Kanouff, and Nicholas, Henry, Clement, Albert, Martin, and Benedict Vandenberg; and son-in-law Kenny Kloewer

Education: attended country school in Brainard, Nebraska and graduated from Brainard High School with the Class of 1938.

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Catholic Church in Center, NE; as an adult, he was an active member of St. Michael’s Parish, Harlan, IA.

Military service: Enlisted March 6, 1942 in the U. S. Army; stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, serving as a Chaplain’s Assistant. honorably discharged on Aug. 19, 1943

Marriage: Mildred Ann Bohaty; May 13, 1941; St. Francis Catholic Church, Center, NE

Employment: After his military discharge, Joe returned to the Midwest and built an auto repair shop. In 1946, he moved to Harlan, IA, and bought the Harlan Garage, renaming it Vandenberg Motors. In 1963 it became Harlan Auto Mart. After his retirement in 1972, Gale became a full-time farmer again and never retired from the farm.

Hobbies/Interests: Member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus; he was an avid hunter and expert marksman.

Sources: pauleyjones.com