Obituary for
Frederick VanderVeen
Frederick R. VanderVeen
8/14/1923 – 7/7/2015
Fred VanderVeen, of Denver CO passed away 7/7/15, five weeks shy of his 92nd birthday. He was preceded in death by wife, Helga, brother Richard VanderVeen and sister Janet Bierie. He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Benegar (John) of Parker CO and grandchildren Jeffrey Benegar of Hermosa Beach, CA and Meghan Benegar of Denver.
Fred was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the oldest of three children, and grew up in nearby Decatur. He graduated as valedictorian “of my very small class” and earned a scholarship to Western Michigan University. He later joined the US Army and trained in advanced engineering at the University of Connecticut. Fred served in the 328th Infantry and fought at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he remained in Germany with the US Civil Service and married Helga Kroll. Their daughter was born in Mannheim, where Fred was a manager of the PX for the US military base.
Upon his return to Kalamazoo, Fred worked for 18 years at Jolly Kids Togs, a children’s clothing factory. He relocated to Coffeyville, Kansas in 1968 to open their new factory. After leaving Jolly Kids, Fred and Helga moved to Denver, where he owned and operated an employment agency until his retirement and played golf and card games as often as possible. He resided in the Hampden East complex, where he enjoyed being on the board as treasurer for two years and president for six years. The Denver area has been Fred’s home since 1969.
A kind, gentle and modest soul, Fred set an example of generosity, tolerance and compromise that was widely admired by those around him. We will miss this wonderful man.
Interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery 8/14/15 at 10:30 am. Family memorial to follow in Parker, CO. Contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, 455 Sherman St., Denver 80203
