VanderMeer, William - Abt. 1899-1945

VANDERMEER

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/10/2013 at 15:34:58

Sioux Center News, March 14, 1945

William Vander Meer, age 46, a prominent missionary and educator in China for twenty-five years was buried at Orange City on Monday of last week.

Mr. Vander Meer was a brother of Mrs. M. C. Muilengurg and visited lecturer in Hudson, while Supt. and Mrs. Muilenburg were living there.

When it appeared certain that Amoy, where he was teaching would be occupied by the Japanese, his college was moved into free China where work was continued. Three times the campus was bombed the school dormitory received a direct hit. The windows of the Vander Meer home were blown out and the walls peppered with shrapnel.

Mrs. Vander Meer and two sons reached America in 1942 on the Gripsholm, but Mr. Vander Meer remained at the college for two years longer. He left China by the "back door" traveling on foot, by river boat, truck, bus, jeep, train, transport plane and over the "Hump" by plane. The ocean voyage required 43 days.

His loss will be felt by his family and relatives and friends in America and also by his friends and pupils in far-off China, where he was for so many years a friend and teacher of the young people there (Hudsonite)