VanderStoep, Donald L. 1940-2003

VANDERSTOEP, PETERS, DEGOEI

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/7/2010 at 07:40:57

DONALD L. VANDER STOEP
ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Donald L. Vander Stoep, 63, of Orange City passed away Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003, at Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Memorial services will be noon Wednesday at First Reformed Church in Orange City, with the Rev. Steven Vander Molen officiating. Burial will be prior to the service Wednesday in West Lawn Cemetery. There will be a family prayer service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Visitation will be after 5:30 p.m. today, with the family present 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the funeral home.
Don’s passion for life and for living it to the fullest was what endeared him to so many.
He was an impassioned advocate. who could always be found championing whatever cause, job or project he was doing. He was an endeared husband, grandfather "Papa," educator and community leader.
Born on June 10, 1940, in Orange City, the son ot Adrian and Gertrude (Peters) Vander Stoep, Donald Lee was a life-long resident of Orange City. He attended Orange City Public School and graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City.
He attained a master’s degree in education psychology from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
His successful career included teacher, coach and guidance counselor in the Maurice-Orange City Community Schools. His students recognized him as a compassionate motivator. He played a major role in the growth of Northwestern College, serving as vice president of development. He gave "supporters of the college the opportunity" to be part of Christ’s Chapel, Rowenhorst Student Center and several other major developments at Northwestern.
Severe coronary disease, resulting from a disciplined struggle with diabetes, necessitated an interruption in his service to others in 1988. He established Resource Planners, a fund-raising organization for nonprofit organizations. He was elected mayor of Orange City a 1993, as a write-in-candidate and was re-elected for three more two-year terms.
He served as vice president of First Federal Bank in Orange City for one year. At the time of his death, after undergoing open-heart surgery. He was serving Reformed Church in America as coordinator of special gifts.
He and his wife, Alyce Faye (De Goei), attended First Reformed Church, where he served in various leadership roles.
In addition to his wife, he is also survived by four children, Jill and her husband, Dale Pluim of Orange City, Jack Vander Stoep and his wife, Diane of Columbus, Ohio, Alyson Vander Stoep of Seattle, Wash., and Emily Vander Stoep of Manhatten Beach, Calif.; six grandchildren, Amber, J.D. and Autumn Pluim and Emma, Sophie and Jackson Vander Stoep; a sister and her husband, Kay and Dennis Hink of Valrico, Fla.; and a brother-in-law. Roger Kleinwolterink of Sheldon. Iowa.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Kleinwolterink.
Source: Local newspaper after 10-11-2003