John S. Vandenberg, 85, resident of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, passed away Jan. 16, 2010, at home. He was born on Sept. 30, 1924, in Kearney, Neb., to John Sr. and Elizabeth Vandenberg.
He lived on his grandfather's farm with his parents, two brothers and a sister. In 1936, they moved the family to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where they purchased a farm. John graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1942.
During WWII, John enlisted in the Army in May 1943 and shortly thereafter shipped off to the South Pacific serving in the 1st Cavalry Medical Corps in the Marshall Island and the Philippines. He received several campaign medals for his actions. After his discharge in December 1945, he enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in forestry. Following his education, he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service where he held many positions during his 30-year career and retired as a Timber Management Supervisor in 1976. During his retirement years, he and his longtime friend Jim Risley, traveled the western U.S. and he liked spending the warm winters in Arizona. John had many talents and interests including watercolor painting and using his computer skills to work on genealogy.
Anyone meeting John enjoyed his company and soon realized how intelligent, kind and what a wonderful honest person he was. All of us who knew and loved John will forever miss him.
John is survived by two sisters; xxxxx of Spanaway, Wash., and xxxx and husband xxxxxxx of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He is also survived by sisters-in-law; xxxxx of Coeur d'Alene and sister inlaw xxxxx of Bonners Ferry, numerous nieces and nephews and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Marvin and Dewayne.
John was my hubby uncle
I took the computer into anther shop and haven't been home do to work. I have Friday off and plan to stop in to see what is what.
I'm now using a friend computer
