Walter Vandekerkhove, 97, passed away at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday December 19, 2013, with his loving family by his side.
Walter, better known as Jeff Vander, was born January 26, 1916, in Skidmore, Kansas. He was the last of seven children born to Gus and Marie (Menu) Vandekerkhove.
He married Madeline OpdeBeeck in Skiplaken, Belgium, on January 10, 1946, and she preceded him in death in June, 1991.
Walter is survived by daughters Pat (Bob) Boles, Irma (Darrell) Kimmel, Trudy Irvin, and Connie (Danny) Flowers, and one son Walter Jr. Papa Jeff leaves behind 9 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers, Gustave Jr., John and Louis, and sisters Julia, Susan and Garman.
Walter was a WWII Army veteran serving in Belgium as a Jeep mechanic and driver where he met Madeline. He returned to Illinois with his new bride and began working second shift in the coal mines and opened his life-long business, Vander’s Gas & Appliance. Jeff and Madeline sold their business in 1975 and retired to Tarpon Springs, FL.
Walter was a member and past-commander of both the American Legion Post 560 and VFW Cox Post 4753 in Sesser, member of the Sesser- Goode Masonic Lodge #744, and lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
Funeral services will be on Monday December 23, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites courtesy of the Sesser American Legion and VFW Post. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Sunday December 22, 2013 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the American Cancer Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.
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