Vanderheiden, Rodney (1954 - 2017)

VANDERHEIDEN, POPP

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/17/2017 at 18:50:00

Name of deceased: Rodney Dean Vanderheiden

Aged: 62 yrs, 4 mo, 11 days

Residence: Bedford, IA

Born: Nov. 24, 1954; Carroll, IA

Died: April 4, 2017; Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center, Bedford, IA (cancer)

Funeral services: Saturday, April 8, 2017, Bedford New Life Missionary Church, Bedford, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery.

Survived by: mother, Neoma (nee Popp) Vanderheiden, of Harlan, IA; brother, Lindsey Vanderheiden (spouse, Stephanie) of Longmont, CO; nephew, Jordan Vanderheiden of Longmont, CO; niece, Michaela Vanderheiden of Colorado Springs, CO; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Father, John Vanderheiden

Education: attended K-12 in Harlan, IA and graduated from Harlan Community High School with the Class of 1973. He was an athletic trainer in high school for the football and wrestling teams, and was part of the 1972 Harlan State Championship football team. He continued his education by earning a Bachelor of Science Degree (Physical Education) from Iowa State University in 1978, where he was an athletic trainer for the football and wrestling teams. While a wrestling trainer, he was part of the 1977 NCAA National Championship team as well as being an athletic trainer for the Iowa State Cyclone football team. He was a thesis short of obtaining his Masters Degree in Guidance Counseling.

Religious affiliation: baptized at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Carroll, IA; confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: no information provided

Employment: After completing his education, he became the head athletic trainer at North Scott High School in Eldridge, IA and was also a Health Education teacher. There, he was instrumental in building the athletic training program into one of the finest in eastern Iowa. In 1985, Rodney left North Scott to take a position at Bedford High School as a science teacher and head girls basketball coach. During his career at Bedford (27 years), he also taught Middle School General Science, was a Guidance Counselor for several years, served as Athletic Director, coached girls softball, as well as some football. Throughout his educational career, he received several teacher of the year awards. He also served as chief contract negotiator for the teachers for many years. Rodney, better known as “Mr. V,” retired from Bedford Community Schools in 2012.

Hobbies/Interests: collecting sports trading cards, coins, postcards, stamps, first day issues, and sports memorabilia

Sources: harlanonline.com; ritchiefuneralhome.com