Robert Vandenberg

Robert VandenBerg, age 88, Clark, formerly a longtime Willow Lake area farmer, died at his home on Monday evening, October 11, 2010 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 11AM in the United Methodist Church at Clark with The Reverend Dayne Zachrison officiating. The organist will be Dorothy Fuller with the Methodist Trio, Barbara Fleshman, Janet Hallberg and Robin Brown singing. Honorary Casketbearers will be his granddaughters and the great-grandchildren. The Active Casketbearers will be Kirk Severson, Dick & Todd Donley, Joe Lakness, Nick Ferk and Richard VandenBerg. Burial with full military honors by the Smith-Cagley American Legion Post of Clark and the South Dakota Funeral Honor Guard will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010 from 5PM-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel in Clark and after 10AM on Saturday morning at the Church. Robert VandenBerg was born on April 6, 1922 in Hospers, IA, the son of Benjamin Andrew and Grace (Dyke) VandenBerg. He attended school in Iowa graduating from New Kirk High School in 1939. He and his twin brother and cousin played in the Iowa State Basketball Tournament in 1939. After high school he attended Northwestern Jr. College in Orange City, IA. In March of 1943 he entered the United States Marine Corp completing his basic training in San Diego, CA. He then was stationed in Norman, OK at the Naval Air Technical training center where he met his future wife, Jane Miller, who was a clerk typist for the U. S. Navy at the Naval Base. In September of 1944 he served overseas aboard the U.S.S. Essex. They bombarded Iwo Jima and the coast of Japan and he also served in the South Pacific. He was discharged at the Marine base in Hawaii in November of 1945. On November 3, 1946 he married Jane Miller in Norman, OK. The couple moved to a farm northwest of Clark where they farmed for 5 years prior to moving to a farm northeast of Willow Lake where they farmed and ranched for 45 years. He loved the land and the cattle he raised over the years. In younger years he also enjoyed hunting pheasants. While living near Willow Lake they were active in the United Presbyterian Church where he taught Sunday School. He was one of the adult Sunday School teachers for some 34 years. He also served on the Church Council, the Willow Lake School Board and was a member, serving as a chaplain and past commander, of the Johnny Fonken American Legion Post in Willow Lake. Since retiring in 1997 and moving to Clark, he currently was a member of the Smith-Cagley American Post in Clark and the United Methodist Church. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife of nearly 64 years, Jane of Clark, children, Ronald VandenBerg of Clark, Linda (Nick) Ferk of Falls Church, VA, Ben VandenBerg of Owanka, SD and Suzanne (Dick) Donley of Bryant; 4 grandchildren, Renee (Joe) Lakness, Todd Donley and Emily & Rebecca Ferk; 4 great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Miranda and Payton Lakness and Braxton Donley. He also leaves a sister, Ruth Innes of Paso Robles, CA and a sister-in-law, Ruth VandenBerg of Huron. Preceding him in death were his parents, a twin brother, Rodney VandenBerg, twin brothers in infancy and a sister when she was 3. Also preceding him in death was a brother-in-law, Jack Innes. Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com