John R. Vande Vorde

ANDERSON, ELLISON, FORTSCH, HANDKE, MOORE, SCHEPERS, VANDE VORDE

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 1/14/2026 at 14:47:05

John R. Vande Vorde, 80, of Stanley, Iowa, died Monday morning, January 12, 2026, at home with his family by his side.

John Raymond Vande Vorde was born March 22, 1945, in Oelwein, the son of Raymond and Loretta (Fortsch) Vande Vorde. In 1962, he graduated from Oelwein High School. After high school, John proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. On October 10, 1970, he was united in marriage to Carla Kay Handke at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton.

John was a lifetime farmer in the Stanley area. He also was sled owner and operator of Magnum Pulling Sled and The Debt of ’73. In 2014, John was inducted into the Badger State Tractor Pullers Association Hall of Fame, and in 2023, he was inducted into the East Central Iowa Pullers Association Hall of Fame. John was a member the Aurora American Legion Post #435, of Aurora, and Knights of Columbus #1168 of Oelwein and a former member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton and St. Mary’s Catholic Church Men’s Club. You could often find him in the shed working on some project. He enjoyed smoking pork loin and making the “best jerky in the world”, the monthly pancake breakfast at the Legion, coffee at the welding shop, Gritt TV, ION TV, food shows, visiting with neighbors and most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. John was never without a can of Copenhagen. He was known for his popular phrases including, “me and you, but mostly you”, “handle it”, “I can see we’re just not gonna get along”, “Doc”, “there is no I in team”, “I hate you” and “I’ll wait right here”.

John is survived by his 3 children: Robbie Vande Vorde of Aurora, Brandie “Rabbit” (Jeff) Anderson of Muscoda, Wisconsin and Lyndsie “Lyndser” (Scott) Schepers of Ryan; grandchildren: Maxine (Malachi) Anderson-Ellison, Jeffrey Anderson, Gracie Anderson, Cole Schepers, Halie Schepers and Olivia Schepers; and great grandson: Waylon Don Ellison.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Carla Vande Vorde in 2016; and 2 sisters: Marilyn Vande Vorde and Patricia Moore.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein.

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:30 P.M. Friday, January 16, 2026, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein.
KC Rosary: 3:30 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.
Parish Scripture Service: 7:30 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Interment: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa with military honors by the Aurora American Legion Post #435 Honor Guard of Aurora, Iowa.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com