Andrew “Andy” Vander Meulen, age 84, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017. He passed away peacefully at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.
Andy is survived by his wife, Lois; his five daughters, Shari (Jim) Hudson, Debi Vander Meulen, Linda (Dick) Gudmunson, Kim (Stacey) LeMaster and Karrie Armstrong; four step-children, Susan (Patrick) Sear, Scott (Karol) Tiemersma, Joan (Sid) Enockson, and Jan (Terry) Robertson; eight grandchildren, Daniel (Jennifer) Gudmunson, Brittny Gudmunson, Chad Gudmunson, Janna Vander Meulen, Remy Hudson, Travis Hudson, Kendall LeMaster and Hailey LeMaster; five step-grandchildren, Ashley Geleynse, Brady Geleynse, Lucas Van Holland, Ethan Van Holland and Lindsay Sear; four great-grandchildren, Chase, Zane, Lance and Quinn Gudmunson; three brothers, Henry (Kathy) Vander Meulen, Swietze (Cheri) Vander Meulen and Ted (Deloris) Vander Meulen; four sisters, Bertha (Lawrence) Silvis, Gertrude Stuit, Betty (John) Hoksbergen and Edna (Bob) Vander Hoek; one sister-in-law, Sandra (Glen) Scalf, one brother-in-law, Mel Yonkman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Andy was preceded in death by his son, Ronald; his first wife, Janice (Groen) Vander Meulen; one brother, Peter Vander Meulen; one sister, Alyce Yonkman; and two brothers-in-law, Richard Groen and Wilbur Stuit.
Andy was born on Nov. 14, 1932 in Loma Linda, California. He was the second of ten children born to Ralph and Etta (Keuning) Vander Meulen. In 1948 the family moved to Sumas, where Andy spent the next two years helping his father start a dairy farm. On Sept. 8, 1953, Andy married Janice Groen. Soon after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea in a radar communications unit. Following his military service, Andy bought his own farm near Sumas, where he and Janice raised their six children, enriching their lives by demonstrating the excellence of hard work, a love for music, loyalty to family and friends and, above all else, an enduring faith in God.
During this time, Andy also helped start North Star, a company that marketed fluid milk to Alaska, and also Krazy Kow, which operated drive-through dairy stores in Seattle. In 1978 Andy sold his farm and they moved to Mount Vernon, where he managed WIMPCO Milk Co-op and the Washington Cheese Company. In 1986 he moved on to become the manager of the NWI Co-Op until his full retirement in 2016. Andy’s visionary understanding of the dairy industry elevated him to a position of high influence and esteem amongst his peers.
After the loss of his wife in 1988, Andy was blessed a second time with the love of a good women when he married Lois (Jongsma) Tiemersma on Sept. 16, 1989. They spent 27 wonderful years together.
Family and friends alike will always remember Andy’s storytelling, stories woven with struggle, striving and humor. His stories not only brought laughter — they also inspired us as we caught a glimpse of how God shaped this brilliant and determined man on his journey of faith.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19, in Christ the King church of Mount Vernon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Vernon Christian School or Pinehaven Christian Ranch.
Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
