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Submitted: 7/6/09 • Approved: 7/8/09 • Last Updated: 8/14/15 • R14380-G0-S3
Birth: May 9, 1919
Dell Rapids
Minnehaha County
South Dakota, USA
Death: Jan. 20, 2009
Sioux Falls
Minnehaha County
South Dakota, USA
William "Bill" N. VanDam
(May 9, 1919 - January 20, 2009)
William "Bill" VanDam, 89, of Dell Rapids, formerly of Chester, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church, Huntimer.
Visitation will be from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23 at Kahler Funeral Home in Dell Rapids. Visitation will resume at 5:00 p.m. at St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church, Huntimer with a Rosary being said at 6:00 p.m. and the Christian Wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m.
William "Bill" Nick VanDam was born on May 9, 1919 at Dell Rapids, SD, the son of William and Martha (Bult) VanDam. He grew up in the Dell Rapids-Chester area and attended country school. After school, he farmed until he entered W.W.II in 1942. He served in the Pacific for the U.S. Army until he was discharged in 1946. On June 5, 1946 Bill married Muriel Park at Huntimer. The couple made their home on their farm until moving into Dell Rapids in 2000. Bill retired in 1984.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and five sisters.
Bill was the oldest male member of St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church and a member of the Chester American Legion Post where he served as a Past Commander. He served on the Chester School Board for many years and also as President.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Muriel of Dell Rapids; his two sons, Dennis (Shirley) of Colman and David (JoAnn) of Chester; his six daughters, Dianne (Darrold) Williams of Dell Rapids, Linda Nelson of Williston, ND, Nancy (David) Sheridan of Center Point, IA, Leanne (Gale) Swier of Madison, Beth (Charles) Buchheim of Chester, and Joan (Bob) Van Liere of Chester; his 16 grandchildren; his 14 great grandchildren; his brother, Donald (Lila) VanDam of Sioux Falls and his sisters, Marie Ellis of Dell Rapids, Bernice (Lyle) Croon of Colman, Julie Abrahamson of Sioux Falls, Doris (Doug) Singer of St. Paul, MN and Rosalie (Dick) Gannon of Dell Rapids.
Contributed on 7/6/09 by dellsfig68
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Record #: 14380