George L. VanDierendonck, 86, of Walkerton, IN, died Saturday, May 2, 2015, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.
He was born March 23, 1929, in rural LaPorte County to Ferdinand and Rosa (Pickavet) VanDierendonck.
George graduated from Mill Creek High School. He was a United States Army Veteran, having served in the Korean War. George was a retired farmer and a former Lincoln Township trustee, and served on the Advisory Board as well. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, American Legion Post 400 and the Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed spending mornings with his “breakfast buddies.” A lifelong farmer, George was most comfortable when he was on his farm, where he was born. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially sharing and patiently teaching them about life on the farm. He loved to watch sports, mostly his grandkids’ sports teams and whatever college sports were on TV. Coinciding with his retirement in the mid-1990s, George became a big fan of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, rarely missing a game. His life had a great impact upon many people and he will be greatly missed by those he impacted — the many family members, friends and the community in which he resided his whole life.
On Sept. 6, 1952, at St. Joseph Church in LaPorte, he married Pauline “Pat” Goethals, who survives.
Also surviving are his beloved children, Peggy (Scott) Ksander of West Lafayette, IN, Don (Lori) VanDierendonck of Walkerton, Nancy (Kevin) Harper of Jeffersonville, IN, Paul (Erin) VanDieren of Granger, IN, and James VanDierendonck of Fish Lake, IN; nine grandchildren, Amy Leitze, Jeff Ksander, Erin Harper-Feser, Katy Goforth, Alison VanDierendonck-Johnson, Melissa Smith, Miranda Kitchell, Andrew VanDieren, and Elise VanDieren; seven great-grandchildren, Nick and Elaina Leitze, Brayden and Abigail Ksander, Chloe and Emmitt Kitchell, and Grayson Goforth; and two sisters, Bertha Hertges of LaPorte and Joan (Charles) Wilhelm of Indianapolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Albert Dieren, Maurice VanDierendonck and James VanDierendonck.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 7732 E. Ind. 4, Fish Lake. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 5, from 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church Hall. Burial will follow the Mass at Oak Grove Cemetery in Mill Creek with Full Military Honors presented by the LaPorte Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Oak Grove Cemetery, 1256 S. 775 E., Mill Creek, IN 46365; Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department, 7982 E. Ind. 4, Walkerton, IN 46574; or the LaPorte County Draft Horse Association, 5656 N. 150 E., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.