Vander Ploeg, Chasper "Chap" 1921-2019

VANDERPLOEG, WESSELINK, VANDERMATEN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

Mr. Chasper “Chap” Vander Ploeg, age 97, of Hospers, passed away on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care.

There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, March 6, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Troy Van Beek will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hospers Cemetery. There will be a family prayer service on Wednesday, at 10:00am, at the church.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the church.

Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Hospers.

Chasper James Vander Ploeg, the son of William and Pearl (Wesselink) Vander Ploeg, was born on June 19, 1921, on a farm northwest of Maurice. He attended the Center Township School through the eighth grade. In 1934, following the death of his mother, his family relocated to Hospers where his father started the Hospers Furniture Store and Chap attended and graduated from the Hospers Public High School.

He was drafted into the United States Army in October of 1942. He was part of an engineer maintenance company serving in England, France, and the Philippines. His father passed away before Chap was honorably discharged in February of 1946. He returned to Hospers and reopened Hospers Furniture on April 1st of the same year.

On his birthday in 1947, he married Lucia “Cia” Vander Maten on her family’s farm north of Newkirk. The couple made their home in Hospers, where they raised seven daughters and two sons. Together they owned and operated the furniture store and helped in providing funeral services to the Hospers community. Chap continued to be involved in the business after selling the store to his son, Will, in 1983. In 2015, the couple moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon, and in 2016, he became a resident of the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care.

Mr. Vander Ploeg was a member of the First Reformed Church where he had served on consistory and was a long-time adult Sunday School teacher. He had also served on the Floyd Valley School Board for many years, and was a member of Gideons International. In earlier years, the family traveled throughout the United States, often camping and rarely passing up a historical landmark. In later years, Chap and Cia enjoyed traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.

Chap will be deeply missed by his wife of more than 71 years, Cia; six daughters and their husbands, Pat and John Stewart, of Lynchburg, Virginia; Charlene and Bob Hayes, of Hospers; Irene and Bruce Kallis, of Bismarck, North Dakota; Kathy and Dan Patterson, of Marion; Rachel and David Kvigne, of Wagner, South Dakota; and Virginia and Greg Bradley, of Holt, Missouri; two sons and their wives, Will and Diane Vander Ploeg, of Hospers; and John and Rachel Vander Ploeg, of Aurora, Illinois; a son-in-law, Frank Randazzo, of Metairie, Louisiana; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Gertie Vander Ploeg, of Sheldon; three of his wife’s siblings and their spouses, Minie and Gene Beernink, of Sioux Center; Kaye and Herb Kuyper, of Sioux Center; and Hermie and Marilyn Vander Maten, of Surprise, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and two infant brothers, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Terry Randazzo; four siblings, Thelma, and her husband, Pete Pott; Henrietta, and her husband, Ray Bulthuis; Henry Vander Ploeg; and Robert Vander Ploeg, and his wife, Henrietta; and seven of his wife’s siblings and their spouses.

Memorials may be directed to Gideons International.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.