The Rev. Robert Vander Schaaf, age 91, of Alton, passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at the Orange City Area Health System Long Term Care Facility.
There will be a funeral service on Monday, January 10, at 11:00am, at the Alton Reformed Church in Alton. The Rev. Michael Hardeman, the Rev. Elizabeth Hardeman, and the Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen will officiate. Interment will follow at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Robert Samuel was born on December 16, 1919, in Leota, Minnesota, the son of the Rev. John J. and Adriana Maria (Muilenburg) Vander Schaaf. At the age of two, Bob moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, where his father became the first pastor of the newly organized First Reformed Church. Six years later, they moved to Springfield, South Dakota, to pastor the Emmanuel Reformed Church.
He attended the Kirkwood Country School, graduated from the Springfield High School, and spent two years at the Southern Normal School. He then worked a year to finance two years at Central College in Pella. After graduating in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves.
Bob served in the military for 3½ years during World War II, working his way up to Aviation Radioman First Class. He logged over 2200 flight hours in PBM's that patrolled for German submarines near the Panama Canal, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America.
On May 10, 1943, he married Esther Lydia Keizer in Alton. After the war, they made their home in Alton, where Bob purchased the Floyd Hatchery. He employed many good workers through the years, including several high school boys working their first job. During this time, he was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where he taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and served on the Consistory as both a deacon and later as an elder.
In the fall of 1958, feeling God's call to the ministry, Bob entered Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Although he was much older than most of his classmates, he formed many friendships and was elected senior class president, graduating in 1961.
During his years as a minister of the gospel, he had only two pastorates. The first was the Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond, Iowa (nine years), and the other was the Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, Illinois (fifteen years). He enjoyed the ministry and had warm, loving, and flourishing congregations.
In 1985, the Rev. and Mrs. Vander Schaaf retired to Alton. Esther passed away on May 29, 2001, in Orange City, after 58 years of marriage. In January of 2005, he moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City, a facility that his grandfather, Samuel Muilenburg, helped found decades earlier. In May of 2008, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility.
He genuinely loved interacting and learning about people from all walks of life: family, friends, children, "down and outers", underdogs, and strangers. He had a great sense of humor, loved to tell stories, and showed kindness and compassion to many. However, his greatest love was for his faithful Savior, who he joyfully served with a grateful heart.
Survivors include his daughter and her husband, Rachel and Rich Aalbers, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; his son and his wife, the Rev. Robert and Sharon Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City, Iowa; six grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel and Shelly Aalbers, of Hampton, Iowa; Benjamin and Heather Aalbers, of Greensboro, North Carolina; Abigail and Louis Desaulty, of Chicago, Illinois; Aaron and Staci Vander Schaaf, of Quitman, Texas; Adam and Jill Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Amber and Tyler Brinks, of Littleton, Colorado; nine great-grandchildren, Max, Emma, and Addison Aalbers, of Hampton; Bonnie, Sadie, and Erin Faith Vander Schaaf, of Quitman; Ajay and Kylen Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Riley Brinks, of Littleton; two sisters, Ada Fisher, of Marion, Indiana; and Amy Breisch, of New Glarus, Wisconsin; a brother, Howard Vander Schaaf, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vander Schaaf, of Genesco, Illinois; and Marie Keizer, of Alton.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Vander Schaaf; a brother, Merrill Vander Schaaf; two sisters, Laura Lensink and Ruth Thompson; six brothers-in-law, Dr. Henry Fisher, Dr. Willard Thompson, Arnon Lensink, Donald Breisch, Edward Keizer, Gerald Keizer; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Vander Schaaf and Sena Keizer.
Memorials will be directed to the Alton Reformed Church and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
There will be a funeral service on Monday, January 10, at 11:00am, at the Alton Reformed Church in Alton. The Rev. Michael Hardeman, the Rev. Elizabeth Hardeman, and the Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen will officiate. Interment will follow at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Robert Samuel was born on December 16, 1919, in Leota, Minnesota, the son of the Rev. John J. and Adriana Maria (Muilenburg) Vander Schaaf. At the age of two, Bob moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, where his father became the first pastor of the newly organized First Reformed Church. Six years later, they moved to Springfield, South Dakota, to pastor the Emmanuel Reformed Church.
He attended the Kirkwood Country School, graduated from the Springfield High School, and spent two years at the Southern Normal School. He then worked a year to finance two years at Central College in Pella. After graduating in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves.
Bob served in the military for 3½ years during World War II, working his way up to Aviation Radioman First Class. He logged over 2200 flight hours in PBM's that patrolled for German submarines near the Panama Canal, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America.
On May 10, 1943, he married Esther Lydia Keizer in Alton. After the war, they made their home in Alton, where Bob purchased the Floyd Hatchery. He employed many good workers through the years, including several high school boys working their first job. During this time, he was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where he taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and served on the Consistory as both a deacon and later as an elder.
In the fall of 1958, feeling God's call to the ministry, Bob entered Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Although he was much older than most of his classmates, he formed many friendships and was elected senior class president, graduating in 1961.
During his years as a minister of the gospel, he had only two pastorates. The first was the Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond, Iowa (nine years), and the other was the Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, Illinois (fifteen years). He enjoyed the ministry and had warm, loving, and flourishing congregations.
In 1985, the Rev. and Mrs. Vander Schaaf retired to Alton. Esther passed away on May 29, 2001, in Orange City, after 58 years of marriage. In January of 2005, he moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City, a facility that his grandfather, Samuel Muilenburg, helped found decades earlier. In May of 2008, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility.
He genuinely loved interacting and learning about people from all walks of life: family, friends, children, "down and outers", underdogs, and strangers. He had a great sense of humor, loved to tell stories, and showed kindness and compassion to many. However, his greatest love was for his faithful Savior, who he joyfully served with a grateful heart.
Survivors include his daughter and her husband, Rachel and Rich Aalbers, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; his son and his wife, the Rev. Robert and Sharon Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City, Iowa; six grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel and Shelly Aalbers, of Hampton, Iowa; Benjamin and Heather Aalbers, of Greensboro, North Carolina; Abigail and Louis Desaulty, of Chicago, Illinois; Aaron and Staci Vander Schaaf, of Quitman, Texas; Adam and Jill Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Amber and Tyler Brinks, of Littleton, Colorado; nine great-grandchildren, Max, Emma, and Addison Aalbers, of Hampton; Bonnie, Sadie, and Erin Faith Vander Schaaf, of Quitman; Ajay and Kylen Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Riley Brinks, of Littleton; two sisters, Ada Fisher, of Marion, Indiana; and Amy Breisch, of New Glarus, Wisconsin; a brother, Howard Vander Schaaf, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vander Schaaf, of Genesco, Illinois; and Marie Keizer, of Alton.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Vander Schaaf; a brother, Merrill Vander Schaaf; two sisters, Laura Lensink and Ruth Thompson; six brothers-in-law, Dr. Henry Fisher, Dr. Willard Thompson, Arnon Lensink, Donald Breisch, Edward Keizer, Gerald Keizer; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Vander Schaaf and Sena Keizer.
Memorials will be directed to the Alton Reformed Church and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
The Rev. Robert Vander Schaaf, age 91, of Alton, passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at the Orange City Area Health System Long Term Care Facility.
There will be a funeral service on Monday, January 10, at 11:00am, at the Alton Reformed Church in Alton. The Rev. Michael Hardeman, the Rev. Elizabeth Hardeman, and the Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen will officiate. Interment will follow at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Robert Samuel was born on December 16, 1919, in Leota, Minnesota, the son of the Rev. John J. and Adriana Maria (Muilenburg) Vander Schaaf. At the age of two, Bob moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, where his father became the first pastor of the newly organized First Reformed Church. Six years later, they moved to Springfield, South Dakota, to pastor the Emmanuel Reformed Church.
He attended the Kirkwood Country School, graduated from the Springfield High School, and spent two years at the Southern Normal School. He then worked a year to finance two years at Central College in Pella. After graduating in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves.
Bob served in the military for 3½ years during World War II, working his way up to Aviation Radioman First Class. He logged over 2200 flight hours in PBM's that patrolled for German submarines near the Panama Canal, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America.
On May 10, 1943, he married Esther Lydia Keizer in Alton. After the war, they made their home in Alton, where Bob purchased the Floyd Hatchery. He employed many good workers through the years, including several high school boys working their first job. During this time, he was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where he taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and served on the Consistory as both a deacon and later as an elder.
In the fall of 1958, feeling God's call to the ministry, Bob entered Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Although he was much older than most of his classmates, he formed many friendships and was elected senior class president, graduating in 1961.
During his years as a minister of the gospel, he had only two pastorates. The first was the Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond, Iowa (nine years), and the other was the Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, Illinois (fifteen years). He enjoyed the ministry and had warm, loving, and flourishing congregations.
In 1985, the Rev. and Mrs. Vander Schaaf retired to Alton. Esther passed away on May 29, 2001, in Orange City, after 58 years of marriage. In January of 2005, he moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City, a facility that his grandfather, Samuel Muilenburg, helped found decades earlier. In May of 2008, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility.
He genuinely loved interacting and learning about people from all walks of life: family, friends, children, "down and outers", underdogs, and strangers. He had a great sense of humor, loved to tell stories, and showed kindness and compassion to many. However, his greatest love was for his faithful Savior, who he joyfully served with a grateful heart.
Survivors include his daughter and her husband, Rachel and Rich Aalbers, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; his son and his wife, the Rev. Robert and Sharon Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City, Iowa; six grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel and Shelly Aalbers, of Hampton, Iowa; Benjamin and Heather Aalbers, of Greensboro, North Carolina; Abigail and Louis Desaulty, of Chicago, Illinois; Aaron and Staci Vander Schaaf, of Quitman, Texas; Adam and Jill Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Amber and Tyler Brinks, of Littleton, Colorado; nine great-grandchildren, Max, Emma, and Addison Aalbers, of Hampton; Bonnie, Sadie, and Erin Faith Vander Schaaf, of Quitman; Ajay and Kylen Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Riley Brinks, of Littleton; two sisters, Ada Fisher, of Marion, Indiana; and Amy Breisch, of New Glarus, Wisconsin; a brother, Howard Vander Schaaf, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vander Schaaf, of Genesco, Illinois; and Marie Keizer, of Alton.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Vander Schaaf; a brother, Merrill Vander Schaaf; two sisters, Laura Lensink and Ruth Thompson; six brothers-in-law, Dr. Henry Fisher, Dr. Willard Thompson, Arnon Lensink, Donald Breisch, Edward Keizer, Gerald Keizer; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Vander Schaaf and Sena Keizer.
Memorials will be directed to the Alton Reformed Church and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
There will be a funeral service on Monday, January 10, at 11:00am, at the Alton Reformed Church in Alton. The Rev. Michael Hardeman, the Rev. Elizabeth Hardeman, and the Rev. Dr. Brian Janssen will officiate. Interment will follow at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Robert Samuel was born on December 16, 1919, in Leota, Minnesota, the son of the Rev. John J. and Adriana Maria (Muilenburg) Vander Schaaf. At the age of two, Bob moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, where his father became the first pastor of the newly organized First Reformed Church. Six years later, they moved to Springfield, South Dakota, to pastor the Emmanuel Reformed Church.
He attended the Kirkwood Country School, graduated from the Springfield High School, and spent two years at the Southern Normal School. He then worked a year to finance two years at Central College in Pella. After graduating in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves.
Bob served in the military for 3½ years during World War II, working his way up to Aviation Radioman First Class. He logged over 2200 flight hours in PBM's that patrolled for German submarines near the Panama Canal, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Galapagos Islands, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America.
On May 10, 1943, he married Esther Lydia Keizer in Alton. After the war, they made their home in Alton, where Bob purchased the Floyd Hatchery. He employed many good workers through the years, including several high school boys working their first job. During this time, he was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where he taught Sunday school classes, sang in the choir, and served on the Consistory as both a deacon and later as an elder.
In the fall of 1958, feeling God's call to the ministry, Bob entered Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Although he was much older than most of his classmates, he formed many friendships and was elected senior class president, graduating in 1961.
During his years as a minister of the gospel, he had only two pastorates. The first was the Immanuel Reformed Church near Belmond, Iowa (nine years), and the other was the Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, Illinois (fifteen years). He enjoyed the ministry and had warm, loving, and flourishing congregations.
In 1985, the Rev. and Mrs. Vander Schaaf retired to Alton. Esther passed away on May 29, 2001, in Orange City, after 58 years of marriage. In January of 2005, he moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City, a facility that his grandfather, Samuel Muilenburg, helped found decades earlier. In May of 2008, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility.
He genuinely loved interacting and learning about people from all walks of life: family, friends, children, "down and outers", underdogs, and strangers. He had a great sense of humor, loved to tell stories, and showed kindness and compassion to many. However, his greatest love was for his faithful Savior, who he joyfully served with a grateful heart.
Survivors include his daughter and her husband, Rachel and Rich Aalbers, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; his son and his wife, the Rev. Robert and Sharon Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City, Iowa; six grandchildren and their spouses, Daniel and Shelly Aalbers, of Hampton, Iowa; Benjamin and Heather Aalbers, of Greensboro, North Carolina; Abigail and Louis Desaulty, of Chicago, Illinois; Aaron and Staci Vander Schaaf, of Quitman, Texas; Adam and Jill Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Amber and Tyler Brinks, of Littleton, Colorado; nine great-grandchildren, Max, Emma, and Addison Aalbers, of Hampton; Bonnie, Sadie, and Erin Faith Vander Schaaf, of Quitman; Ajay and Kylen Vander Schaaf, of Sioux City; and Riley Brinks, of Littleton; two sisters, Ada Fisher, of Marion, Indiana; and Amy Breisch, of New Glarus, Wisconsin; a brother, Howard Vander Schaaf, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Gladys Vander Schaaf, of Genesco, Illinois; and Marie Keizer, of Alton.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Vander Schaaf; a brother, Merrill Vander Schaaf; two sisters, Laura Lensink and Ruth Thompson; six brothers-in-law, Dr. Henry Fisher, Dr. Willard Thompson, Arnon Lensink, Donald Breisch, Edward Keizer, Gerald Keizer; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Vander Schaaf and Sena Keizer.
Memorials will be directed to the Alton Reformed Church and Mission Aviation Fellowship.
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