Dr. Harold Vander Weele

Dr. Harold Vander Weele, 81, formerly of Palos Heights, passed away December 11th at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth (Berghuis) Vander Weele, 79, of South Haven; seven children, twelve grandchildren, and four great grand-children.

Born May 4, 1925 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he was the son of Danker and Cora Vander Weele. He was the brother of Jeanette Sittema (the late Richard) of DeMotte, Indiana; Steve J. Van Der Weele (Viola) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; the late Gertie. (the late Henry) Krygsheld; Clarence (Harriet) Vander Weele of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Herbert (Emma) Vander Weele of Lansing, Illinois; Elmer (Harriett) Van Der Weele of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Donald (Joan) Van Der Weele of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Ray ( Phyllis) Vander Weele of Grand Rapids.

In 1947, Dr. Vander Weele graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He continued his education at Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. He graduated in 1951 as a Doctor of Dental Surgery.

He was a resident of Palos Heights from 1954 to 1991. In the 1960s and the 1970s, he served as a volunteer fireman at the Palos Heights Fire Department and during that period as the Civil Defense Director of the City of Palos Heights. He served as an elder in the Palos Heights Christian Reformed Church and volunteered labor for the construction of its original sanctuary and school.

In 1991, Dr. Vander Weele retired from his long-time dental practice in Palos Heights and moved to South Haven, Michigan, with his wife Elizabeth. He was a member of and served as Chairman of the Building Committee of the Kibbie Christian Reformed Church.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, sister of the late Dr. Jacob Berghuis and Grace Verkade; his children Susan Grace Vander Wey of Tweed, Ontario, Canada, wife of the late Jouke Luutzen Vander Wey; Aileen Carol (Dale) Meyer of Urbandale, Iowa; Bruce Harold Vander Weele of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Laura Jean (Kenneth) MacQueen of New Lenox, Illinois; Colleen Faye (Monte) McMartin of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Maribeth Jan Vander Weele of Chicago, and Joel Mark (Tami Lynn Elifson) Vander Weele of Palos Heights, Illinois.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Emily Marie Elizabeth Vander Wey, Timothy Paul Meyer, Jennifer Ann Meyer, Sarah Elizabeth MacQueen, Alexander Jordan MacQueen, Jordan Andrew MacQueen, Kerry Allison McMartin, Kimberly Faye McMartin, Michelle Kathleen McMartin, Jacob Mark Vander Weele, Samuel Joel Vander Weele, and Seth David Vander Weele, and his great grandchildren, Dalton James Meyer, Emma Lynnea Anderson, Christian James Anderson, and Grace Elizabeth Anderson.

Visitation will be at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, 1076 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Kibbie Christian Reformed Church, 00479 CR 687, South Haven Michigan. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the building fund of the Kibbie Christian Reformed Church, 00479 CR 687, South Haven, Michigan 49090.