Marion “Van” Vanderlinden, age 90 of Perry, Iowa was welcomed home to Heaven on January 16, 2021. Due to the pandemic, a memorial service is postponed until later. Condolences may be offered online at: www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Marion Clifford Vanderlinden Jr was born February 26, 1930 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Marion Sr and Hazel (Brom) Vanderlinden during hard depression times. One of his sharpest memories growing up was being the lead newspaper boy in 1941, walking downtown Osky shouting “Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Japan bombs Pearl Harbor”! Van said he sold a lot of papers that day. He also collected stamps and sang tenor in high school musicals.
Van graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1948, then enlisted in the US Navy as a Naval Aviation Electrician. He was assigned to an anti-submarine squadron VS-23, attached to USS Mindoro CVE carrier escort during the Korean War. After honorable discharge in 1952, he started his career with NW Bell as lineman/repairman/equipment man. He married Margaret “Meg” Harrison on March 14, 1953. Together they had 3 children: Cheryl, Kim, and Brent. “Ma Bell” transferred Van from Oskaloosa to Marshalltown, then to Perry in 1961. Van and his friend Dale Shirbroun built the house he lived in most of his years in Perry. After 35+ years with the phone company, Van retired as a supervisor for US West in 1988.
Van was a member of Perry Quarterback Club, Jaycees, Telephone Pioneers, VFW, American Legion, and the Perry United Methodist Church. He was active in his community with the Elks (2005-2006 Elk of the Year), as president of Toastmasters Club, as chief steward of the Communications Workers of America, on student/parent action committees for Perry Schools, and committee member of Boy Scouts Troop 131. Van gave tours at the phone company and did group first aid demonstrations with “Resusci-Anne”.
Van’s farm was his pride and joy. He shared it with family and friends who came to fish, hunt, camp, and BBQ. And Van was an avid coin collector. But his main hobby was golf, he was proud of his 2 “hole-in-ones”. Van loved Neil Diamond music, Red Lobster, unbreaded tenderloins, Hershey bar pie, and spending time with family and friends. He especially enjoyed playing with his grandkids and great-grandkids. In retirement he also took Christmas baskets to the Veterans Home and called Bingo at the Elks Club. You could count on Van, he was always there to help someone in need. In his yearbook, the caption under Van’s name said: “He has a wink and a smile for everyone”.
Those left to cherish his memory are daughter Cheryl (Mark) Camos, sons Kim (Rhonda) Vanderlinden and Brent (Lisa) Vanderlinden; grandchildren Josh (Janel) Camos, Michelle (Derek) Draisey, Tascha (Gordon) Rogers, Noah Vanderlinden, Anne Vanderlinden, Lindsay (John) Leiendecker, Kellie Walker, Drew (Luci) Vanderlinden, Pete Vanderlinden, Luke (Elyssa) Vanderlinden, Jason Vanderlinden; 12 great-grandchildren; sister Donna Lehman, and numerous extended family.
Meeting him in Heaven are his parents, wife Meg, brother Paul Vanderlinden, sisters Norma Tucker and Linda Reighard, and great-grandson Bryce.
We thank staff at Hospice, Spring Valley Assisted Living and Eden Acres for their kind and compassionate care. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Midwest, and First United Methodist Church of Perry.