Gale J. Vandenberg
June 11, 1920 — April 23, 2014
Gale Joseph Vandenberg was born on June 11, 1920 to Arnold and Mary (Vanderheidon) Vandenberg in David City, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Catholic Church in Center, Nebraska. He attended country school in Brainard, Nebraska and graduated from Brainard High School with the Class of 1938.
He was united in marriage to Mildred Ann Bohaty on May 13, 1941 at St. Francis Catholic Church. They were blessed with five children: Mary, Joseph, James, Allen, and Kathaleen.
On March 6, 1942, Gale enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, serving as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He received his honorable discharge on August 19, 1943. He returned to the Midwest and built an auto repair shop.
In 1946, he moved to Harlan, Iowa and bought the Harlan Garage, renaming it Vandenberg Motors, then 1963 it became Harlan Auto Mart. After his retirement in 1972, Gale became a full-time farmer again. He never retired from the farm.
At an early age, Gale was an avid hunter and expert marksman. He was a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and an active member of St. Michael’s Parish.
Gale died at his home on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, having attained the age of ninety-three years, ten months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his son James; grandson Gary Kloewer; his parents; all ten brothers and sisters: Henrietta Litty, Martha Luckassen, Dorothy Bongers, Ardean Kanouff, and Nicholas, Henry, Clement, Albert, Martin, and Benedict Vandenberg; and son-in-law Kenny Kloewer.
He is survived by his wife of nearly seventy-three years Mildred Vandenberg of Harlan, Iowa; children: Mary Kloewer of Harlan, Iowa, Joseph Vandenberg and his wife Rosemary of Kirkman, Iowa, Allen Vandenberg and his wife Diane of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kathaleen and her husband Lee Stinn of Harlan, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
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He was united in marriage to Mildred Ann Bohaty on May 13, 1941 at St. Francis Catholic Church. They were blessed with five children: Mary, Joseph, James, Allen, and Kathaleen.
On March 6, 1942, Gale enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, serving as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He received his honorable discharge on August 19, 1943. He returned to the Midwest and built an auto repair shop.
In 1946, he moved to Harlan, Iowa and bought the Harlan Garage, renaming it Vandenberg Motors, then 1963 it became Harlan Auto Mart. After his retirement in 1972, Gale became a full-time farmer again. He never retired from the farm.
At an early age, Gale was an avid hunter and expert marksman. He was a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and an active member of St. Michael’s Parish.
Gale died at his home on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, having attained the age of ninety-three years, ten months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his son James; grandson Gary Kloewer; his parents; all ten brothers and sisters: Henrietta Litty, Martha Luckassen, Dorothy Bongers, Ardean Kanouff, and Nicholas, Henry, Clement, Albert, Martin, and Benedict Vandenberg; and son-in-law Kenny Kloewer.
He is survived by his wife of nearly seventy-three years Mildred Vandenberg of Harlan, Iowa; children: Mary Kloewer of Harlan, Iowa, Joseph Vandenberg and his wife Rosemary of Kirkman, Iowa, Allen Vandenberg and his wife Diane of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Kathaleen and her husband Lee Stinn of Harlan, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
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