Vander Schaaf, John E. 1920-2015

VANDERSCHAAF, RIKKERS, ROGHAIR

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 10/26/2015 at 14:57:06

Mr. John Vander Schaaf, age 95, of Orange City, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015, at the Orange City Area Health System.

There will be a funeral service on Monday, October 12, at 10:30am, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Mark Haverdink and the Rev. Ryan Perz will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation will be after 2:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

John Henry, which is how he was baptized, was born on April 17, 1920, in rural Sioux Center, the son of Edward and Nellie (Rikkers) Vander Schaaf. He was raised in the Sioux Center area until 1930, when his family moved to a farm northwest of Orange City. He attended country schools through the eighth grade, then one year at the Orange City High School, and then two years at the Northwestern Classical Academy in Orange City.

On January 2, 1947, he married Gertrude Roghair, in Okaton, South Dakota. They farmed the Vander Schaaf family farm until 1981, when they retired into Orange City. In February of 2014, they moved to the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.

John was a member of the First Reformed Church, where he served on the consistory as an elder, taught the eighth grade boys Sunday school class for over forty years, and sang bass in the men’s chorus. He also sang in many quartets, which provided music in area churches, often being complimented on his voice.

In addition, he served on the board of directors of the Orange City Christian School.

Mr. Vander Schaaf enjoyed all things related to farming, and he liked gardening.

Survivors include his wife of more than 68 years, Gertrude; three sons and their wives, Robert and Debora Vander Schaaf, of Orange City; David and Renae Vander Schaaf, of Alton; and Dennis and Patricia Vander Schaaf, of Sheldon; a daughter and her husband, Sharon and Kenneth Welker, of Kennan, Wisconsin; thirteen grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel (Kaitlyn) Vander Schaaf and Dustin Vander Schaaf; Nathan (Sherri) Vander Schaaf, Nancy (Luke) Wielenga, Curtis Vander Schaaf, Krystle Vander Schaaf, Ben Vander Schaaf, and Rachel Vander Schaaf; Eric (Jennifer) Vander Schaaf, Emily Vander Schaaf, and Evan Vander Schaaf; and Leah (Jimmy) Johnson and Casey (Brent) Richardson; two step-grandchildren, Lauren Welker and Kyle (Jenny) Welker; nine great-grandchildren, and another due soon; and three brothers-in-law, Robert (Bessie) Roghair, Theodore Roghair, and Bud J. Grover.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters and a brother, Antonia Burggraaff, Gertrude Remmerde, Edna Boersma, the Rev. Henry Vander Schaaf, and Nelvina Aldis, and their spouses.

Memorials will be directed to Talking Bibles International.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.