WILLEM (BILL) VANDENBERG

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WILLEM (BILL) VANDENBERG November 17, 1930 - October 19, 2016 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Willem Vandenberg on October 19, 2016. He leaves to mourn, his daughter Anne (Wes) and grandsons, Steven and Michael, and son John (Val) and grandsons Conrad and Eric. He is survived by his sisters Mieke (Lazlo), Jessy (Piet), Anna, Tine (Henk), and brothers Johan (Agaathe) and Peter (Dianna) and numerous nephews and nieces in Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, as well as several close friends. He was predeceased by his wife Gwenda, mother Wjtske, father Siebe, sister Piete and brothers Dirk, Gerben, and Gerlof. Born in Friesland, Bill spent his youth in the city of Sneek. He received technical training and worked as an instrument mechanic in the Dutch Airforce. He immigrated to Canada in 1954, worked his way across the country on tobacco fields and farms, and settled in Winnipeg, where he worked for the MacDonald/Bristol Co. In 1957 he met and married Gwenda, and together they began a family and a life together. He dearly loved his "Canadian mother" Anne Morrison. He worked hard and pursued education, completing high school in Canada, and graduating with honors with a BSc. from Bradley University, Illinois. In 1964 he was the first teacher hired to start the Teacher Training program at the Manitoba Institute of Technology. He pioneered many programs during his seven years of service. In 1970 he founded the St. James Montessori School. He taught Industrial Arts in the public schools for 14 years and retired in 1986. Dad was a generous man who was known to give the "shirt off his back" if he thought someone was in need. He was a man of his word and set a great example for his family. Dad was always happiest out on a lake, fishing and enjoying the sunshine. He also was happy when he could soar through the skies in his Cessna 150. His kids, and later his grandchildren were often his co-pilots. Dad flew his own aircraft until the age of eighty. He donated his Cessna to the Manitoba Chapter of the International Association of Women Pilots, an organization that has since used this aircraft to introduce hundreds of young women to the field of aviation. We will remember our dad as a unique and intelligent man who was fiercely independent and always stood up for what he believed. He will be greatly missed. We take comfort in knowing that he lived his life to the fullest. He is now at peace. Hold thou Thy cross before my closing eyes Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee In life, in death oh Lord abide with me Bill will be laid to rest with his wife Gwenda in a private family ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in dad's memory to the Manitoba Chapter of the International Association of Women Pilots.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 22, 2016