Versteeg, Clarence L. 1922-2007

VERSTEEG, VISCHER, DEVRIES

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/2/2011 at 18:24:37

Clarence L. Ver Steeg
December 28, 1922---- July 2, 2007
Mr. Clarence Ver Steeg, age 84, of Evanston, Illinois, formerly of Orange City, passed away on Monday, July 2, 2007, at the Mary McGaw Care Center of the Westminster Presbyterian Home in Evanston.
There will be a graveside service on Thursday, July 5, at 10:30am, at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. The Rev. Dr. Perry De Groot will officiate. There will be a prayer service on Thursday, at 10:00am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Visitation with the family will be the half hour before the prayer service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Clarence was born on December 28, 1922, in Orange City, the son of John A. and Anne (Vischer) Ver Steeg. He was raised in Orange City, where he attended Northwestern Junior College. He graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City and received his Ph. D. in American History from Columbia University in New York.
On December 24, 1943, he married Dorothy Ann De Vries in Texas, where he was stationed with the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He was a highly decorated officer, who navigated many combat missions on a bomber in the South Pacific Ocean.
About 1950, Clarence and Dorothy moved to Evanston, Illinois, where he began a long career with Northwestern University. He was a full professor of history, specializing in the colonial and revolutionary period. He also served as dean of graduate schools and was chairman of the faculty planning committee, during a time of expanding the physical campus of Northwestern. He was especially proud of the new library, which has become an important center of study and research.
His contributions to Northwestern have been recognized by many awards and academic chairs, including the Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Professorship. In retirement, he continued to be consulted about university matters.
Mr. Ver Steeg was also a prolific author, composing dozens of scholarly books and textbooks for students. He studied the lives of many of our country's founding fathers and received a prize for his biography of Robert Morris. His wife was a full partner with him, doing research, editing, and preparing manuscripts.
The Ver Steegs have lived at the Westminster Presbyterian Home for the past ten years. They are members of the North Minster Presbyterian Church in Evanston, and they enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, of more than 63 years; his son and his wife, John C. and Jane Ver Steeg, of Washington, D. C.; a sister, Nelvina Ver Steeg Thomas, and three sisters-in-law, Sadie, Susanna, and Wilmina Ver Steeg, all of Orange City; and a brother-in-law, Warren L. De Vries, of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by eight brothers, Benjamin, Gysbert, Harold, Jake, Lawrence, Marion, Wilbur, and infant Clarence; and three sisters, Carrie, Henrietta, and Mable.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.