Harold Eugene (Van) Van Vickle |
| Posted 2013-12-29 by Pat Wilson |
| Harold Eugene "Van" Van Vickle died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning, February 18, 2006 in Sun City West, AZ. Van lived a productive life of over 79 years. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Mordean, and his sister Ethel. On July 28, 1926 Van was born to Artie McKinley "Mack" and Leeta Van Vickle in Maynard, Minnesota. He was raised on farms in Sioux Rapids and Washta, Iowa. Standing tall at 6' 3", Van enjoyed playing forward on his high school basketball team. Van served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. In 1947 he met and fell in love with Adeline at the Tomba Ballroom in Sioux City, Iowa. They married in 1948. He earned a Bachelor degree in Music Education and a Master degree in Education. Van played clarinet in the college band, and was president of the college choir. Upon graduation he became a school band director, teaching instrumental and vocal music. His passion for education led him to become the school superintendent in Linn Grove, Iowa. In 1959 Van moved Adeline and his two daughters, Kathy and Linda, to Scottsdale, AZ. For over 24 years he worked for the McGraw Hill Publishing Company selling educational tools to high schools and colleges. In 1967 he was promoted to Field Manager and moved his family to Camarillo, CA. Van enjoyed the beauty of the desert, golf courses, and cruising the California coast in his boats. He won several awards in cruiser navigation contests. In 1994 Van and Adeline moved to Sun City West, AZ. He loved to golf, play the clarinet in the Sun City Pops Band, sing in the church choir, play cards (especially 500 and Bridge), keep up on world events, and care for his citrus trees and cacti. Van struggled for many years with breathing-related health challenges that increasingly limited his activities. He managed to keep a positive attitude through it all. Now his struggles are over and he is resting in peace. He will be loved and missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Adeline of 57 years, his sister Jo Ann Peterman, his daughters & sons-in-law Kathy & Gabriel Velasquez and Linda & Scott Pangrle, and his granddaughters and their families Ana, Sasha, & Madeline Kukulj and Julie, Jack & Tate Myers and Sheryl, Jeff, Nicolas & Jett Krueger. Van requested all memorial contributions be directed to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation c/o Harold Van Vickle Memorial Fund, 1920 E. Cambridge Ave., Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85006. Memorial service was held at the Desert Garden United Church, 18818 N. 128th Ave., Sun City West, AZ 85375. Published in The Arizona Republic on 2/24/2006. See Also: Find_A_Grave |
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