Gerald R Vandyke Sr.
May 10, 1926 — August 18, 2015
Gerald R. VanDyke Sr., 89, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2015 at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gathering for family and friends: 4-7pm Friday, August 21, 2015, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Graveside service: Linwood Cemetery at a later date.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth VanDyke; children, Terryl (Ron) David and Gary (Mary) VanDyke, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Scott (Dana) David, of North Liberty, Bill (Dana) VanDyke, and Angela (Tyler Smith) VanDyke, of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Rachel David and Parker Pierson; great-great-granddaughter, Adi Pierson; sister in-law, Ruth VanDyke, of Des Moines; and nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Melvin and Ralph VanDyke.
Gerald R. VanDyke Sr., was born in Des Moines, Iowa on May 10, 1926, son of Herbert and Anna (Carlson) VanDyke. He served in the Navy during World War II on the USS William D. Porter destroyer in 1945, which was sunk off Okinawa by a Japanese kamikaze plane. In 1947, he married Ruth Smith in Des Moines, Iowa. Gerald later served during the Korean conflict on the USS Lenawee destroyer in 1950 and was discharged in 1952. Gerald and Ruth enjoyed attending many ship reunions with his old shipmates. Gerald also enjoyed woodworking, made many knickknacks, worked on cars and was very handy. He could fix anything, or at least try.
Special thanks to Jenny Offerman, Julie Kruser and Avery Arnold for taking such good care of Gerald at his home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth VanDyke; children, Terryl (Ron) David and Gary (Mary) VanDyke, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Scott (Dana) David, of North Liberty, Bill (Dana) VanDyke, and Angela (Tyler Smith) VanDyke, of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Rachel David and Parker Pierson; great-great-granddaughter, Adi Pierson; sister in-law, Ruth VanDyke, of Des Moines; and nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Melvin and Ralph VanDyke.
Gerald R. VanDyke Sr., was born in Des Moines, Iowa on May 10, 1926, son of Herbert and Anna (Carlson) VanDyke. He served in the Navy during World War II on the USS William D. Porter destroyer in 1945, which was sunk off Okinawa by a Japanese kamikaze plane. In 1947, he married Ruth Smith in Des Moines, Iowa. Gerald later served during the Korean conflict on the USS Lenawee destroyer in 1950 and was discharged in 1952. Gerald and Ruth enjoyed attending many ship reunions with his old shipmates. Gerald also enjoyed woodworking, made many knickknacks, worked on cars and was very handy. He could fix anything, or at least try.
Special thanks to Jenny Offerman, Julie Kruser and Avery Arnold for taking such good care of Gerald at his home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
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