VanderSchaaf, Carl E. 1931-2006

VANDERSCHAAF, POSTMA, STURSMA

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 2/3/2015 at 21:16:03

Source: Rock Valley Bee (1-2007)

Born: July 31, 1931
Died: December 31, 2006

Carl Edwin Vander Schaaf was born at the home of his parents, Fred and Anna Stursma Vander Schaaf, near Peoria, Iowa on July 31, 1931. He attended the Peoria Christian Grade School until the 6th grade and then the Pella Christian Schools through high school in Pella, Iowa. During those years Carl enjoyed fast pitch softball, basketball and practical joking. Carl was proud to serve his country during the Korean War. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951 and specialized in tanks.

Following his discharge in 1957 Carl returned to Pella. Carl’s Aunt Ella Vander Schaaf was teaching in the Pella Christian Grade School with Shirley Jean Postma at the time and she introduced them to each other. This ultimately led them to being united in marriage on November 26, 1960, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. Carl and Shirley’s marriage was made special by their steadfast commitment to each other and they became the parents of three children: Jack Lee, Sue Ann and Julie Lynn.

Following their marriage they resided in Pella until 1964 when they moved to Independence, Iowa, for 13 years where Carl managed the Quality Ready Mix plant. In 1977 they returned to Pella where Carl worked for Pella Construction Company for a short time until starting his own dragline business. He then became a self-employed truck driver and owned and operated Vander Schaaf Trucking until his recent illness.

On Sunday evening, December 31, 2006, Carl passed away of lung cancer at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella five months following his 75th birthday.

Carl is survived by his wife of 46 years, Shirley J. Vander Schaaf; his son, Jack L. Vander Schaaf of Pella; a daughter, Sue A. Janssen and her husband, Jerry and her three sons (his three special grandsons): Jake Veenstra, Cole Janssen and Drew Janssen all of Pella; and a daughter, Julie L. Vander Schaaf of Rochester, Minnesota. Carl is also survived by his two sisters: Shirley Hoksbergen and her husband, Alvin, of Grand Haven, Michigan, and Merle Vande Lune of Madison, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Anna Vander Schaaf and his brother-in-law, Larry Vande Lune; along with his parents-in-law, Richard and Cora Vande Vegte Postma.

Carl was baptized and made profession of his faith at the Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. At the time of his death he was a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. He also belonged to the American Legion Post Number 89 of Pella, the Pella Historical Society and the Pella Regional Health Center. Carl and Shirley and their family enjoyed traveling and their family vacations but his favorite place was home. You could take Carl out of the truck but not trucking out of his life.

Visitation will begin Wednesday morning at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home. Family visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at the church.

For those desiring, memorials may be given for Hospice of Pella or the Peoria Christian Grade School.