Gerald Nolan “Pete” Vander Linden, 97, of Hoquiam died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in Hoquiam. He was the last of nine brothers. He was born on Oct. 4, 1920, on a farm south of Murray, Iowa to Guy N. and Margaret Catherine (Fisher) Vander Linden. He was the number five of nine boys. He was raised on farms in Clark County, Iowa in Doyle Township.
“Pete” attended his first eight grades of schooling in a one room Doyle Township School. He attended his freshman year of education at the Murray High School and graduated from Osceola, Iowa High School in June of 1938. Pete worked at odd jobs during his three years of high school and made his own way since he was 14. He worked summers on farms as a hand.
Pete bummed and hitch hiked his way to St. Anthony, Idaho to join two of his brothers in the spring of 1940. He worked on farms as day labor. In September of 1940 Pete joined the National Guard. He was mobilized in 116th Medical Battalion that same September and was sent to Camp Murray near Fort Lewis. On a weekend pass he saw a picture of what he thought was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, he told his friend he wanted to meet that woman. He met Norma Hoover in Tacoma on Valentine’s Day in 1941. On April 1, 1942, the 116th was mustered out to The New Heberdes in the South Pacific to the Island of Efate. He served there for 21 months and on Guadalcanal for 10 months. Pete returned to the US in the fall of 1944 he applied to officer candidate school and was accepted at Camp Barkley, Texas. While Pete was in Officer Candidate School he asked Norma E. Hoover to marry him. She got on a train to Texas and on Feb. 3, 1945, they were married in Abilene. He obtained his commission as 2nd Lt. in the Medical Administration on March 15, 1945. He returned to Tacoma and was discharged at Ft. Lewis on Oct. 15, 1945. Following discharge, he worked for a short time as 1st cook in 1500 man mess at Ft. Lewis.
On Feb. 6, 1946, Pete came to Hoquiam to work for the then Pinnick-Coleman Mortuary, now known as Coleman Mortuary. He attended Mortuary College at California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles from September of 1948 to June of 1949 and graduated with an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. He sat for his examination and achieved his funeral director and embalmer licenses in the fall of 1949 in Seattle. He returned to Coleman Mortuary in spring of 1950. In 1962, purchased an interest in the business and in 1974 obtained full ownership.
Pete was a very active member of the Hoquiam Community. He was a member of Hoquiam Rotary for 38 years, a Paul Harris Fellow and two time past president; 50 year member and past president of Hoquiam Eagles; a 49 year member of Hoquiam Lodge #64, F & AM serving twice as master; a member of Grays Harbor Scottish Rite and achieved the degree of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, he also spent over 25 years in Mizpah Chapter #30 O.E.S. serving many times as Worthy Patron and father advisor to Hoquiam’s Rainbow Assembly #7; he was a member of the Hoquiam Elks Lodge #1082 for over 40 years and was treasurer for several years; a life member of Henry L. Robb VFW Post 1135; a longtime member and treasurer of the American Vets Home Association and was active in formation of the Chevron American Vets Park in Hoquiam; in 1991 was entered on the Honor Roll of Hoquiam Grizzly Alumni Association. He joined the Hoquiam Lions Club in 1994 and was a dedicated and active member. Pete served on a committee that was instrumental in bringing Hospice to Grays Harbor. He was a member of the Naval Auxiliary, and in 1975 he was invited by U.S. Navy Department to participate in a seven day cruise aboard the USS George K. Mackenzie (DD836) from San Diego, Calif. to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1991 he was honored as citizen of the year by Hoquiam Development Association. He was voted citizen of the year again in 2015. He was a lifetime member of the Grays Harbor Salvation Army where he served on the advisory board and as president several times. Pete was an avid golfer and at the age of 89 was excited to have “shot his age”.
He and Norma took many trips across our country visiting friends and relatives. They loved going the “back roads” and seeing where they led. He and Norma always looked forward to the family reunion and reconnecting with his parents and brothers and their families. Later in his life he enjoyed becoming the patriarch of the Vander Linden clan. Pete and Norma were ever faithful following their grandchildren in sports, band concerts and plays. He enjoyed his morning coffee group and Friday evening cocktail and dinner group.
He was baptized and became a member of United Presbyterian Church in Hoquiam and in 1951 and was a member for over 50 years. Served as lay minister, chairman of Board of Deacons, chairman of the Memorial Fund Committee, clerk of the Session for several years, was Commissioner to General Assembly in Denver in 1972, and had made mission presentations at several Presbyterian Churches in the area; had been a delegate several times to Presbytery. He had served as chairman of the Every Member Canvas several times and was chairman of Pastor Finding Committee in late 1980’s. He had attended United Methodist Church in Hoquiam since 2002.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Marvin C., Richard F., Ernest L., Donald F., Herman J., Bernard Keith, Leland P. and Dale E. also his beloved wife of 65 years, Norma Elaine. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Claire E. (John) Lackie of Spokane, and his grandsons and their wives Jason Kelly (Elizabeth), Jeffrey Nolan (Angela) and Thomas James (Laurie), a sister-in-law, Mary Kay Vander Linden, his loving friends, Sue and Dan Campos and their family, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the Grays Harbor Salvation Army, P. O. Box 1437, Aberdeen, WA 98520.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at the Hoquiam Elks Lodge, 624 K Street in Hoquiam.
A graveside service of interment will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg, Wash.
Direction is by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
