Joel VanderVeen
June 13, 1953 - May 12, 2015
Joel Lee VanderVeen [61], a very special husband, father and
brother passed away on May 12th peacefully at his home on
Pine Lake (Plainwell, MI), after a hard fought battle with
cancer. Joel was born on June 13th,1953 in Kalamazoo, MI to
Henry Vander Veen and Crystal Kersten (Vander Veen) Horst.
Joel grew up in Fulton and Portage, MI and later his family
relocated to Pine like where Joel then attended and
graduated from Delton Kellogg High School in 1971. After
high school Joel married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl
Champion,1974 at Doster Community Church.
In his younger years, Joel worked for the Glowing Ember’s
Girl Scout Council for five years and was known fondly as
“Ranger Joel” at Camp Merrie Wood. In 1979, Joel and Cheryl
decided to adventure to Oregon where he worked for the US
Forest Service at the Bear Springs Ranger District on Mt.
Hood. Joel also, simultaneously, worked for the Oregon State
Highway Department at Government Camp’s maintenance section.
From there, he moved on in his career with The State of
Oregon Highway Department. in 1983 Joel and Cheryl purchased
a home and farm in Pine Grove OR and were blessed with their
first daughter, Amanda Lee Vanderveen in 1982. Their second
daughter, Sunny Ann Vanderveen, arrived a few years later in
1986. Joel’s 2 daughters were his pride and joy. After 8
years of farming their 60 acres of land, Joel and his family
decided to return to Michigan in 1998 to be closer to their
extended families.
After returning to MI, Joel worked for The Dana Corporation
starting in 1998, as a Materials Manager from which he
retired in 2011. After retiring, Joel enjoyed restoring his
1962 wooden Chris Craft boat which he launched for the first
time in July, 2014. Besides Joel’s affinity for restoration,
he spent the majority of his retired days on Pine Lake
boating, fishing, playing guitar and entertaining family and
friends. Joel was a family oriented man always making sure
is wife and kids were taken care of.
Joel was preceded in death by grandparents, Martin and
Lillian Kersten and William and Grace Vander Veen. Also by
his step father John Horst, mother, Crystal Kersten Horst,
father Henry Vander Veen, brother, Marty Vander Veen, and
half-brother Perry Vander Veen.
Joel is survived by his wife Cheryl Vanderveen and his
daughters Amanda VanderVeen and Sunny VanderVeen. Also his
sisters Lynn Campbell (Douglas) and Cheryl L. Vander Veen
and his brother Jim Vander Veen (Donita). As well as his
step-mother, Margeret VanderVeen and half-sister Joy
McMeekan (Greg), along with many nieces, nephews and more
distant relatives and his much love dog and and Friend,
Gracie.
