Henry “Jay” VanderKolk, 97, Fredericksburg, Va., and formerly of Warsaw, passed away March 5, 2015, at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, due to complications from a stroke. He was born Jan. 10, 1918, in Forest Grove, Mich., to Mary Christina and Henry Arend VanderKolk. On Nov. 10, 1948, he married Effie Vanon Bell, who preceded him in death. He was raised with four brothers, Arnell, Anno, Lloyd and Clifford, and an older sister, Herella. A younger sister Annaline died shortly after her birth from a serious illness. He loved sharing stories of their childhood, from the long walks to the small one room schoolhouse to his difficult relationship with the family mule. His younger brother, Anno, shared of his heroics, saving him from drowning after their oldest brother, Arnell, decided it was time for Anno to learn how to swim and threw him in the local watering hole. He promptly rescued him. He enlisted in the Navy Dec. 16, 1941, where he served on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock. On April 7, 1945, he survived a kamikaze mission that resulted in numerous casualties onboard. The suicide attack coincided with the fast carrier task force finding and sinking the Japanese super-battleship Yamato as it attempted to attack the allied invasion forces on Okinawa. Later that year, when the formal surrender of the Japanese Imperial government was signed on board the USS Missouri, the Hancock planes he serviced flew overhead. He was discharged Oct. 15, 1945. It should be noted that all four brothers served their country during World War II and returned home. He married Effie and they raised their three children, Linda, Janet and Doug, in Warsaw. He was a sales professional for Martin’s Feed out of New Paris, and retired at the age of 65. After a brief period of golf and tinkering, he found a new role as an executive driver for DePuy, shuttling frequent travelers to the regional airports until his second retirement at the age of 75. He was a member of Community Grace Brethren Church and a proud member of the Gideons International. He enjoyed Michigan football, and loved attending Warsaw Tigers basketball games. He leaves behind two daughters, Linda (and spouse Rick) Keeven, Warsaw, and Janet (and spouse Tom) Eichenberg, Fredericksburg; and son, Doug (and spouse Laurie) VanderKolk, Fredericksburg; five grandchildren: David (and spouse Hannah) Keeven, Alyssa Burton, Megan Eichenberg, Blake and Brooke VanderKolk; great-granddaughter, Madeline Keeven; a brother, Anno VanderKolk; two sisters-in-law, Gert VanderKolk and Gladys Holloway; and brother-in-law, Whitey (and spouse Nancy) Bell. He also was preceded in death by his sister, Herella; three brothers: Arnell, Lloyd and Cliff; and two granddaughters, Jennifer and Melissa Keeven. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with Andy Galvin of Community Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw officiating. A private family graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Calling is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240; American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312; The Gideons International, c/o Memorial Bible Chairman, P.O. Box 766, Winona Lake, IN 46590-0766; or donor’s favorite organization. “Pray, and let God worry” - Martin Luther. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
