Gale Vander Pol

Gale Vander Pol was welcomed home by his Savior on June 13, 2023, in Bellingham, Washington. 

Gale was born to Harry and Lydia (Libolt) Vander Pol on April 25, 1938, in Dupree, South Dakota. He started in a country school with seven pupils in the entire school and graduated from the University of Washington with more than 30,000 students in June 1961. He lived in South Dakota until 1946 when his family moved to Washington because the country school closed. The transition was not easy for him since there was only two students (his cousin) in his class, and there were 35 in his room at Lynden Christian. He graduated from high school in 1956 and the University of Washington in 1961. He worked part-time at grocery stores in town during high school and college. He worked for the Boeing Company for 36 years. His last position was the director of taxes.  

Gale married his wife Lonnie Jobe on Aug. 26, 1960. 

Gale is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lonnie; three sons: Jeffrey (Cindy), Mark, Ken (Nancy); grandchildren: Ryan, Kristen (Andy Brubaker), Kimberly (Patrick Arnold), Abby, Kasey, Brent, Blake (Caitlin), Erik, Madeline (Courey) Schneider, and Michael; and six great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by sister, Judy Vander Haak, brothers-in-law Eddie Ezell, Tom Jobe, Philip Jobe (Betty), and sister-in-law, Linda (Gary Duim). 

Gale is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lydia Vander Pol, in-laws, Charles and Marlys Jobe, sisters, Arlys Abrahamse and Kay Ezell, brother-in-law, Darryl Vander Haak, and sister-in-law, Jane Jobe. 

Gale was active in church activities, including deacon, elder, and missions programs, including several trips to Moldova, Romania, and Europe. He and Lonnie made several trips to Minnesota, Florida, and California to visit friends and to the East Coast to see historical places.  The highlight was taking his yearly trip to the Mariners spring training with his family.

In honor of Gale’s wife Lonnie, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org.

The family held Gale’s graveside service in Greenwood Cemetery on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at First Reformed Church, Lynden.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.