Bert Vanderlaan's Obituary
Bert Don Vanderlaan Don passed way on April 3rd, 2009 at Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, WA. Don was bore on September 22, 1927 in Miami, FL. At age of three he and his parents left for Denver, where they lived only a short while and decided Seattle was a more ideal place to live. Soon after moving to Seattle they moved to Port Orchard, WA, where Don attended his first grades of school. It was in Port Orchard where his father worked at the "Old Soldiers Home" as a landscaper. Finally they moved to the Lake City area which is now part of Lakewood. It was shortly after this move that Don's father became ill and died. Don graduated from Clover Park High School in 1946. After high school, Don joined the Seabees and served in the Philippines. He attended Washington State University for one year. In 1951 Don and his mother drove to Canada, where he was introduced to Josine DeWit. In 1952 they were married in Sumas, WA. Shortly thereafter they married, and Don took a position with the Federal Prison system at McNeil Island, where he retired after twenty-five years in 1980. After retirement from the prison system Don couldn't sit still and went to work as a school bus driver for the Clover Park School district where he spent the next thirteen years. Don loved his family, outdoor activities, visiting relatives in Canada, and had committed his life to the Lord Jesus. Don is survived by his wife Josine, daughters Marlene (Don), Cheryl (George), grandchildren Lauren, Diana, Dylan, Matt, Lacey, Jamie, and two great-children, Reef and Cody. Viewing at Mountain View Funeral Home 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Tacoma, WA, Friday April 10, 2009, between 6:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. and Saturday April 11, 2009 between 9:00 A.M - 11:30 A.M., with a graveside to follow at 12:20 P.M. Don's celebration of life will be at Lake City Community Church, 8810 Lawndale Ave. SW, (253) 582-8040, at 2:00 P.M. April 11, 2009.
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