John H. Vandevoort was born on October 25, 1920. He was the fourth of four children born to Henry and Anna (Klein) Vande Voort of Pella. John passed away Saturday, January 28, 2012, at Jefferson Place in Pella, Iowa at the age of ninety-one.

John graduated from Pella High School in 1938 and the National School of Meat Cutting, Toledo, Ohio in 1941. He made profession of his faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella.

In his younger years, he worked for his brother, Henry, at Vande Voort's Cash Grocery in Pella until October 1942.

John met Wilma "Billie" Meppelink when her family moved to the Pella area and joined the First Christian Reformed Church. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1944, at her parents' home near Pella. This union was blessed with four children: Kenneth John, Robert James, Joel Keith and Jay.

John entered the Army Air Force on October 2, 1942, and served as a photo technician with the 509th Composite Group at Wendover, Utah; North Field, Tinian Island; and Roswell, New Mexico. The 509th dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ended the war. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on February 6, 1946. John was an inspiration for his sons and grandsons and was the first of six veterans in his immediate family.

John returned to Pella after the war to continue working for his brother at Vande Voort's Cash Grocery, Vande Voort Super Market and Van's Food Market where he was manager and produce manager. He also worked at Pella Cooperative Electric and retired from the Rolscreen Company in 1985. At the present time his home was at Jefferson Place in Pella, Iowa.

Family came first in his life, as he was a very devoted husband and father and received great happiness in loving his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. John enjoyed photography and his photo darkroom, woodworking, cooking outdoors (even in the winter) and following Central College and Iowa Hawkeye football. He also spent time visiting over coffee at In' t Veld's and greeting visitors in Central Park.

John was a charter member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. He served on the first consistory and on the building committee which built the church.

Among those who will cherish his memory are his children and spouses: Ken and Carol Vandevoort of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Bob and Leslie Vandevoort of Phoenix, Arizona, Joel and Marti Vandevoort of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Jay Vandevoort of Kabul, Afghanistan; six grandchildren: Julie O'Barr, Jim and Vanessa Vandevoort, Rick and Jill Shelton, Jon Vandevoort, Laurel Vandevoort and Bret Vandevoort; six great-grandchildren: Andy, Caitlin and Cierra O'Barr, and Brooke, Madison and Christian Sheldon. Also surviving sister-in-law Jane Bos, brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Carolyn Meppelink; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding John in death were his parents, parents-in-law, brother Henry, sisters Wilma Vanden Oever and Grada Vander Hart, brothers-in-law Peter Bos, Marion Vanden Oever and Godert Vander Hart, sisters-in-law Gertrude Meppelink, Claziena Meppelink and Evelyn Meppelink.

MEMORIAL SERVICES

2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 4, 2012
Calvary Christian Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Noon until 7:00 P.M.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS

Calvary Christian Reformed Church Video Ministry
Pella Community Foundation

FAMILY

Wife: Billie Vandevoort - Pella, Iowa
Children: Ken (Carol) Vandevoort - Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
Bob (Leslie) Vandevoort - Phoenix, Arizona
Joel (Marti) Vandevoort - Las Vegas, Nevada
Jay Vandevoort - Kabul, Afghanistan

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