Willis Vander Wal May 12, 1935 - July 23, 2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jul 26, 2021 | 9:13 AM / 490 views
Funeral services for Willis Vander Wal, 86, of rural Pollock will be at 10:30 AM, Friday, July 30, 2021, at the Hope Reformed Church in Westfield. Burial will be at the Dale Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 7 PM with a prayer service at 7:30 PM, Thursday at the church.
Willis Karl Vander Wal, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, well known area farmer and rancher, passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 23, 2021. Willis was born May 12, 1935, and attended rural school through the eighth grade, he took some high school courses by correspondence, then attended Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. In Nov. 1961 the farm called him back home and that’s where he lived the rest of his life. On August 13th 1958, he married Jane Pool at the Hope Reformed Church in Westfield, ND, to this union 9 children were born.
His friendly disposition led him to be involved in community events and various boards which included Northwestern College Board Trustee, local and state Farm Bureau, serving as Vice-Pres of Nodak Mutual Insurance Company, Kem Electric Board of Directors, Gideons International, wrote letters to prisoners through Crossroads Prison Ministries, church involvement as elder, Sunday School Supt, teacher, consistory, youth group leader, and sang for many occasions. He loved to sing during his younger years and often said people called on him for special music, “When someone got married or buried.” He also sang in the ‘Westfield Quartet’ and area cantatas which he thoroughly enjoyed.
His love for the Lord led him to start a weekly radio program on KOLY radio station in Mobridge, SD “Time Out for Jesus” which he did for nearly 10 yrs.
He was a farmer at heart which kept him close to the land. In the later years, during the winter he liked traveling to warmer areas, but always anxious to get home when it was time to get in the field. He recorded some songs in Nashville, TN that he shared with everyone. He enjoyed a trip to Holland where he saw the birthplace of his father. Went to Hawaii several times, Puerto Rico, Dominion Republic, and Mexico where he again met exchange students and family. His dream was to go to Israel and see the Holy Land, but that never happened.
He loved burning wood in the fireplace, and a cup of coffee where he could strike up a conversation with anybody who would listen to him.
Willis is survived by his wife Jane of 62 years; 8 children, Dean (Marcia), Raymore, MO, Carter (Merlynn), rural Pollock, Cody (Janel), rural Pollock, Austin (Sheila), Washburn, ND, Tyler (Jamie), New Salem, ND, Jewel Mosset, Strasburg, ND, Parker (Sarah), Argusville, ND, Crystal Rohrich, Strasburg, ND, 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and the many hosted foreign exchange students from various countries around the world.
He was preceded in death by his son Daniel on July 4, 2018, parents Albert & Elzina (Winterberg) Vander Wal, in-laws Dick & Annetta (Hofer) Pool, and 8 siblings and their spouses, Gertrude & (John) Vander Laan, Ella & (Vernon) Manuel, Peter & (Ethel) Vander Wal, Florence & (Lester) Van Beek, Alberta & (Gilbert) Van Beek, infant brother, A. Vander Wal (1924), Esther & (Floyd) Van Beek, Caroline & (George) Kroh, Caroline preceded Willis in death by one day.
Willis still had plans for the future which as the song says, “One more day Lord, please give me one more day, I still have so many things I want to do”, but it wasn’t meant to be. He had a full, happy life and was ready to meet HIS Lord and Saviour.