VanderMeulen, Kenneth
Paw Paw
Formerly of Kalamazoo,
Passed away February 15, 2005 in Kalamazoo. Ken was born, August 02, 1921, in Zeeland Township MI (Beaver Dam) the son of Henry and Jessie (Mollema) VanderMeulen.
He served in the pacific during WWII in the 9th Navel Construction Battalion, the "Sea Bees" and was honorably discharged in 1946.
He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Western Michigan University.
Ken taught English and reading improvement in Michigan and Illinois at the high school level for two decades before returning to his Alma Mater. There Ken contributed to the field of education as an Instructor in WMU's College of Education and Editor of the "Reading Horizons". He retired from Western in 1985. After retirement Ken and his wife Mary have enjoyed a quiet life gardening and bird watching from the kitchen window.
Ken will be remembered for his great love of life; for his love of the outdoors and his love of camping with his family; his wonderful sense of humor and deep affection for little children, especially babies.
Ken was united in marriage to the former Mary Ellen Dawson on August 24, 1947 in Kalamazoo, who sis survived by his spouse, his sons; Nicholas (Shin) of Tokyo, Japan;
Joseph (Bronwyn) of Maple City; Thomas (Sarah) of Ypsilanti; Matthew (Karen) of Vicksburg; and daughter Sarah (Bruce) Gillum of Kalamazoo; and 6 grand-children; lan, Laura, Alexander, Coleman, Katherine, and Mitchell.
Also surviving him from a previous marriage are: a daughter, Billie Lee
(Don) Orenbuch of PA and two grandchildren Tim and Evelyn (Stuart) Napshin of PA
Memorial service to be held on Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at NOON 12:00pm at Paw Paw United Methodist Church, 420 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw, Ph. # 657-7727. Luncheon will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Dorothy J. McGinnis Reading Center & Clinic, College of Education, Western Michigan University. Alternatively, memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice or the Paw Paw United Methodist Church.
To share a memory or.condolence on line: www.timeformemory.com/adams
