Notes for: Roy Lester Vander Waal
From Find-A-Grave:
Roy Vander Waal, 82, passed away on March 14, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, March 30, 2012 at First Christian Church in New Sharon with Pastor Phil DeBoef officiating. Inurnment will be held at Friends Cemetery in New Sharon.
Roy Lester Vander Waal was born on June 28, 1929, in Fremont, Iowa, to William and Thelma(Alderman)Vander Waal. He attended Garden Hall County School throught 8th grade, and graduated from New Sharon High School in 1947. During high school, Roy had asked his father, Bill, for a motorcycle, but thinking motorcycles were too dangerous. Bill agreed to let Roy taking flying lessons instead. Roy started flying in 1946 and received his private pilot license in 1949. Roy was planning to enlist in the Air Force, but on the day he went to the recruiting office, they were not accepting new enlistees until the next week. Roy decided rather than waiting a week, he went to the Army office instead. In 1951, Roy enlisted in the U.S.Army and served in Japan and Korea and was honorably discharged in 1954, in February of 1954, he was married to Bea Joel in Fulton, Alabama. They resided on their farm outside New Sharon until retiring from farming in 1998. They eventually moved to Denver, Colorado, where Bea passed away in 2006. During his time in New Sharon, Roy organized the New Sharon Flyers Club when he received his flight instructor license in 1969. The club bought a Cessna 172, eventually expanding to three airplanes and 45 members. In total, 75 men and 5 women received their pilot's licenses under Roy's tutelage. In 1987 Roy was a corporate pilot for Vermeer Manufacturing for five years. Roy and his family belonged to the Flying Farmers of America. Roy logged over 5,000 hours throught the years. In addition to farming and flying. Roy sold DeKalb seed products in the community from 1991 until 1999. In 2008, Roy married Beverly Clark, of Centennial, Colorado. They resided in Aurora, Colorado until Roy's death.
Roy was active in his community, serving on various committees and boards, including the North Mahaska School Board, New Sharon Presbyterian Church Board, First Christian Church Board, and New Sharon Co-op. Roy was baptized in the First Christian Church in 1977, and he lived out his faith in many tangible ways. Going to church was always the highlight of his week. While in Aurora, Colorado, Roy and Beverly attended and were actively involved in Grace Church Aurora. This is the church where Roy and Beverly met. Sundays at Grace were a time of family fellowship since Roy's daughter, Brenda, and Beverly's daughter, Kathy, were active in the music ministry.
Roy is survived by his wife, Beverly; children, Steve(Tammy)Vander Waal and Brenda(Garrick)Gregory; six grandchildren, Brock Lynch, Anna(Lynch)Gipson, Krystal(Vander Waal)Cunningham, Andrew Vander Waal, Adriana Vander Waal, and Trevor Gregory; and four great-grandchildren, Elijah Lynch, Oliver Lynch, Milo Lynch, and Amelia Gipson; his sister, Fran Ferguson and a step-daughter, Kathy(Jeff)Cooper.
He was preceded in death by his Parents, Bill and Thelma Vander Waal; his first wife, Bea and his daughter, Sherry (Vander Waal) Lynch.