Bill Vanderwal
1936 - 2024
William Vanderwal, beloved husband of Leni Vanderwal, passed away in Taber on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the age of 88 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Monday, December 16, 2024 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
A private burial service was held at the Taber Memorial Garden on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
The Funeral Service was held at the First Christian Reformed Church, 3902 Heritage Drive, Taber on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 11:00 A.M.
To view a recording of the service, click on the 'livestream link' on this page.
Besides his loving wife Leni, Bill is survived by their four daughters, Evelyn Field (Tony Chaston) of Cochrane and her daughter Emilie Field (Colten); Monica Miller (Dave Rogers) of Vauxhall and her children Jordan (Brooklyn) Kuipers and Kianna Kuipers (Mathijs); Melanie (Clarence) Bos of Taber and their children Kristin (Dylan) Tams (their children Windsor, Conrad, Archer and Slater), Kaitlyn (Brayden) Bacho, Kelsey Bos, Kourtney (David) Klassen; Brenda Vanderwal of Calgary. He is also survived his sisters Grace Navratil, Helen (Richard) Peters, their families and by numerous in-laws.
He was predeceased by his parents Kornelus and Joukje Vanderwal, sister Frances, brothers Hutch, John, Marten, Mike and Clarence Vanderwal and by Leni’s parents, Willem and Neeltje Lyzenga.
Bill was born in Surhuizum, Netherlands on March 3, 1936 and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1952. Bill worked several jobs hoeing beets, as a ranch hand, the gravel pit and Carnation foods until opening Eastend Iron with his business partner, Dick Kempe in 1972. Bill was well known throughout the farming and oilfield communities as a talented welder who could fix anything. He continued to operate Eastend until his retirement in 1995.
Bill enjoyed camping, gardening, wood working and had the creativity to build something out of nothing. There was always a solution when a problem presented itself. He also loved playing games like cribbage, chess and dice with friends and especially with his children and grandchildren.
Through retirement, Bill and Leni travelled and during this time did disaster relief on several trips before settling for the winters at Sky Valley, near Palm Springs. Many memories were made with friends and family in Sky Valley.
Bill was an active member of the Christian Reformed Church and previously served as an elder. Church and family were important to Bill and there was always time for a visit when anyone stopped by. It was important to him that everyone come in and have a seat.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bill’s name may be made directly to the Taber and District Health Foundation, 4326 - 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9 www.tdhf.ca.