JOHN ANDREW VANDER
WAAL
OBITUARY….
The memorial service for John Andrew Vander Waal of
Albert Lea
,
MN
will be held
At 2:00 PM Monday, December 21, 2009 at
Trinity
Lutheran
Church
, Albert Lea.
Pastor Curtis Zieske will officiate.
Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service,
Albert Lea
and one hour before service at the church.
Private family interment will be held at a future date.
John died peacefully surrounded by his daughters and friends Tom and Sandy Clawson on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at
Thornecrest
Retirement
Center
, Albert Lea.
He was 74 years old.
John was born in
Volga
,
SD
on July 5, 1935, the son of John and Manda (Warnes) Vander Waal. He graduated from
Volga
High School
, earned his teaching degree from
South Dakota
State
University
and received his Master’s Degree at
Mankato
State
University
. John was married to Carol Ann O’Neal on August 7, 1960 in Huron, SD. John had lived in
Volga
,
SD
,
Wessington Springs
,
SD
,
Watertown
,
SD
,
Ft.
Dodge
,
IA
and
Gaylord
,
MN
before moving to
Albert Lea
,
MN
in 1977.
He served his country in the National Guard. John was a member of
Trinity
Lutheran
Church
where he had served as a Stephen Minister, on church council and sang in the church choir.
John taught and had been a basketball coach at Wessington Springs and
Watertown
,
S.D.
He was a school Principle at
Fort Dodge
,
Iowa
and
Gaylord
,
MN
. John was a financial advisor for American Express from 1977 until his retirement.
John sang with the Careyaires, was in Toastmasters, 4-H leader and a member of the Moose Club and Kiwanis Club.
He enjoyed playing bridge, fishing, hunting, basketball and all sporting events with the grandkids.
John is survived by his daughters: Ronalee (Chris) Johnsen of Wessington, SD, Roxann Clayton of St. Lawrence, SD, Roberta (Paul) Woodside of Albert Lea, MN; grandchildren: Rikki (Kenny) Kolquist, Ryland Nelson, Storm and Sydney Johnsen, Courtney and Katrina Belton, Benjamin and Bryn Woodside; Siblings: Doris Oakland of Plymouth, MN, Avis(George) Rowbotham of Belluve, WA.,
brother in law, Robert Mock of Clear Lake, IA.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carol Ann; 4 sisters and 4 brothers in law.
The family wishes to thank the staff at
Thornecrest
Retirement
Center
for their excellent care and dear friends, Tom and Sandy Clawson.
