Obituaries Archive

Obituaries » Richard Vander Weele

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May 19, 1948 - August 8, 2022

Following his wishes, Dick will be cremated, with interment to be held during a private family service at Riverside Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest with his parents. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at The Salvation Army Kalamazoo Citadel Corps, 1700 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, MI. A time of fellowship will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Salvation Army.

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Richard “Dick” Vander Weele, age 74, of Galesburg, MI, was promoted to glory on August 8, 2022. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI, on May 19, 1948 to the late Robert “Bo” and Geneva (Brown) Vander Weele.

After graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1966, Dick attended Western Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor of sociology degree. He later went on to earn his master’s of social work.

Dick was a faithful servant of God and spent his entire career as an officer in The Salvation Army. He was commissioned on June 12, 1977 as part of the Companions of Christ session. He held several appointments during his illustrious career, with the majority of his time being spent in Chicago, Detroit, and other Midwestern areas. Dick thoroughly enjoyed playing in the percussion section of The Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band, as well as in his local corps band. Dick retired from The Salvation Army as a Lt. Colonel on July 1, 2014. After retirement, he moved back to the Kalamazoo area to be near his family.

Dick is survived by his siblings, Thomas (Sue) Vander Weele of Terrace Park, OH; Daniel (Linda) Vander Weele of Kalamazoo, MI; Timothy (Jane) Vander Weele of Kalamazoo, MI; and Susan (Craig) Burrows of Kalamazoo, MI; as well as several nieces and nephews.