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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
"Uncle Bill" and "Yosh" as he was well known, age 96 of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains
William VanNiewal, age 96 of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, died peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2016. He was the beloved “Uncle Bill” to his large family and countless friends, and was affectionately known as “Yosh” among the Dutch circle. Bill was raised in Prospect Park, NJ and lived there for nearly fifty five years before moving to West Milford. He moved to Cedar Crest Village just seven years ago.
Bill often reminisced about his childhood in Prospect Park. Those were simpler times when kids were happy shooting marbles on the sidewalk or playing stickball in the vacant lot down the street, and Bill had countless memories of such fun that he often shared with his family. After high school, Bill found himself in the U.S. Army fighting World War II. During his thirty nine months abroad, he saw conflict from Africa to Sicily, Italy and eventually into Germany where he met up with his brother on the battlefield. Bill spoke frequently of his time in the Army and the campaigns he was engaged in during the war, and he also enjoyed visiting West Point whenever the occasion presented itself. After returning from war, he started his career with Curtiss Wright in Wood Ridge. He retired in 1981 after more than thirty years with Curtiss Wright.
Bill was a beautiful person, loving, kind, and never uttered a cross word. Selfless to a fault, he often gave away the finest produce from his garden and kept only the bruised and less-desirable crops for himself. When he moved to Cedar Crest Village in 2009, he quickly reacquainted with old friends from his childhood and many who grew up in his old neighborhood. He always had a company of friends to socialize and enjoy a meal with. He took good care of his health, ate well, exercised, and was especially fortunate to be able to drive a car up until just a few short months ago. He was a handsome man with his blue eyes and white hair, was very easy-going, and he was loved by many people. His family and friends will all miss him dearly.
Bill is survived by his nieces and nephews; Lorraine DeJonge and her husband John of Wilmington, NC, Adrian Slootmaker and his wife Claire of Fredon, NJ, Leonard Slootmaker and his wife Nancy of Moraga, CA, and Janet Vandenberg of Pompton Plains, NJ, his great nieces and nephews; Nancy Davis and her husband Dee of Atlanta, GA, Douglas DeJonge and his wife Aundrea of Charlotte, NC, Jeffrey DeJonge and his wife Gorana of Switzerland, Andrew Slootmaker and his wife Michele of Pompton Plains, Matthew Slootmaker and his wife Leslie of Hawaii, Rebecca Busch and her husband Robert of White Plains, NY, Robin Slootmaker of Taiwan, Sean Slootmaker of Moraga, CA, Alan Vandenberg of Oak Ridge, NJ, and Beverly Anzelmo and her husband Jason of Bloomingdale, NJ, as well as many great-great-nieces and nephews.
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Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Burial will follow at the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.
"Uncle Bill" and "Yosh" as he was well known, age 96 of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains
William VanNiewal, age 96 of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, died peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2016. He was the beloved “Uncle Bill” to his large family and countless friends, and was affectionately known as “Yosh” among the Dutch circle. Bill was raised in Prospect Park, NJ and lived there for nearly fifty five years before moving to West Milford. He moved to Cedar Crest Village just seven years ago.
Bill often reminisced about his childhood in Prospect Park. Those were simpler times when kids were happy shooting marbles on the sidewalk or playing stickball in the vacant lot down the street, and Bill had countless memories of such fun that he often shared with his family. After high school, Bill found himself in the U.S. Army fighting World War II. During his thirty nine months abroad, he saw conflict from Africa to Sicily, Italy and eventually into Germany where he met up with his brother on the battlefield. Bill spoke frequently of his time in the Army and the campaigns he was engaged in during the war, and he also enjoyed visiting West Point whenever the occasion presented itself. After returning from war, he started his career with Curtiss Wright in Wood Ridge. He retired in 1981 after more than thirty years with Curtiss Wright.
Bill was a beautiful person, loving, kind, and never uttered a cross word. Selfless to a fault, he often gave away the finest produce from his garden and kept only the bruised and less-desirable crops for himself. When he moved to Cedar Crest Village in 2009, he quickly reacquainted with old friends from his childhood and many who grew up in his old neighborhood. He always had a company of friends to socialize and enjoy a meal with. He took good care of his health, ate well, exercised, and was especially fortunate to be able to drive a car up until just a few short months ago. He was a handsome man with his blue eyes and white hair, was very easy-going, and he was loved by many people. His family and friends will all miss him dearly.
Bill is survived by his nieces and nephews; Lorraine DeJonge and her husband John of Wilmington, NC, Adrian Slootmaker and his wife Claire of Fredon, NJ, Leonard Slootmaker and his wife Nancy of Moraga, CA, and Janet Vandenberg of Pompton Plains, NJ, his great nieces and nephews; Nancy Davis and her husband Dee of Atlanta, GA, Douglas DeJonge and his wife Aundrea of Charlotte, NC, Jeffrey DeJonge and his wife Gorana of Switzerland, Andrew Slootmaker and his wife Michele of Pompton Plains, Matthew Slootmaker and his wife Leslie of Hawaii, Rebecca Busch and her husband Robert of White Plains, NY, Robin Slootmaker of Taiwan, Sean Slootmaker of Moraga, CA, Alan Vandenberg of Oak Ridge, NJ, and Beverly Anzelmo and her husband Jason of Bloomingdale, NJ, as well as many great-great-nieces and nephews.
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