Vlieger, William 1957-2012

VLIEGER, VANDERTUIG, CORNISH

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/4/2013 at 22:42:59

William Vlieger
William "Bill" Vlieger, 54, died at his home in Houston, Texas, surrounded by family early on December 24 after a two-year battle with cancer. A memorial service was 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2, at Wiesner & Massart Funeral Home in Casco, Wisconsin.

Vlieger was born in Sioux Center on Oct. 13, 1957, to Bill and Sylvia (Vander Tuig) Vlieger. He grew up in Sioux Center causing a bit more mischief than other teenage boys, but worked hard in school excelling in both academics and track and field. He graduated from Sioux Center High School where he set multiple track records. After graduating, he pursued a degree in accounting at Dordt College on an academic scholarship and worked his way through college, continued his passion for track and field, and tirelessly supported his new family including two young children. Running track at Dordt, he continued to set records including a pole vaulting record of 13' 6" that stood for 28 years. After graduating from Dordt in 1981, his career led him across the country to California, I Wisconsin, Illinois and finally Texas. He specialized in tax and worked in the beef, water, paper, and oil industries. On May 21, 1998, he married Patricia "Patti" Cornish.

Together, they enjoyed boating on their own boat, ocean sailing trips, and houseboat vacations with their children and grandchildren.
Survivors are his wife Patti Vlieger; his mother Sylvia Vlieger; his sisters Judy (Ron) Buseman and Jo Ann (Vern) Wichers; his children, Ben (Shannan) Vlieger, Katie (Brett) Wallace and Ty (Sara) Miller; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Bill Vlieger; his sister Mary (Steve) De Young; and his stepson Adam Miller.

Source: Sioux Center News of January 4, 2012