Aloysius "Weice" Robert Vanderzanden Obituary (1913

Aloysius "Weice" Vanderzanden, 96, a resident of the Banks community died, Saturday morning, August 1, 2009 at his home. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be said on Friday, August 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM held at the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; 39135 NW Harrington Rd. in Roy, OR. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Friday August 7, 2009 at the St Francis Catholic Church in Roy. Rite of Christian Burial and Vault interment will follow the Funeral Mass to be held at the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Cemetery in Roy. A reception will follow at the St Francis Grade School. Weice was born on June 7, 1913 on the family farm in Banks, OR. He was the youngest son of six children born to Peter John and Agnes R (Herb) Vanderzanden. He was raised on the family farm and attended St Francis Grade School. He later attended Banks High School and was a graduate from the Class of 1931. Following high school he started farming with his family and eventually purchased the family farm in 1946. Weice enlisted in the US Army during WWII. He served his country as a Staff Sgt with the 38th Bomb Squadron in the South Pacific. His duties as power turret and gun sight mechanic involved him in repairs and scheduled maintenance for several ship armories. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He was united in marriage to Loretta VanDyke on January 3, 1946 in Roy, Oregon. Following their marriage they made their home on the Vanderzanden family farm in Banks. They farmed together and raised eight children on their farm. They raised berries, wheat apples, hay, chickens and eggs. Loretta died in January of this year. Weice enjoyed farming; he also went hunting and fishing. He traveled with his wife and visited British Columbia in Canada. He was an avid baseball fan and played scrabble and crossword puzzles. Weice visited the Oregon coast to go clam digging and to enjoy the scenery. He was proud of his garden not only to feed his growing family but later in life because he enjoyed raising it. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Loretta, his parents and five siblings. Survivors include eight children and their spouses; Peter and Judy Vanderzanden of Hillsboro, OR, Paula and Mike McVay of Hillsboro, OR, Karen Kemper of Banks, OR, Joan and Rick Schouweiler of Cornelius, OR, Chuck and Brenda Vanderzanden of Hillsboro, OR, Rob and Kathi Vanderzanden of Vancouver, WA, Ed and Jane Vanderzanden of Gales Creek, OR, Mark and Lissa Vanderzanden of Banks, OR, 21 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. The family wish donations placed in Weice's name to St Francis of Assisi Catholic Grade School Endowment Fund