Kenneth E. VanderMey, age 78, of Lynden, passed away on May 30, 2017 in Creede, Colorado, doing what he loved with the one he loved.
A son of Ervin and Nellie VanderMey, he was born in Lynden on March 21, 1939. He married Lois VanderHoek in 1962 and had two children, Vince and Carissa VanderMey. Ken later married Helen Fuchs of Randle, Washington, where they built a life together along with Helen’s four kids, Dennis, Denise, Bob and Bruce. Ken was a man who cared deeply and believed in finding ways of serving that brought love and happiness to those around him. From his time working for the Forest Service to his time as a teacher and coach in White Pass, he worked with both elementary and high school students looking to bring out the passion inside each student he encountered.
Our dad, husband, brother and friend loved us dearly. He also had a love for the outdoors and sports, with a special fondness for pickleball. Upon retiring from teaching, Ken eventually moved to Albuquerque, where he and Helen spent countless hours camping and fishing with their beloved dogs Sandy and Molly. As we take time to remember Ken, we take heart in how much he loved everyone in his life. Teaching us how to fish, countless bike rides, and pretending to be a bear during our camping trips are just some of the many ways he touched our lives and brought us together with an enduring sense of joy, passion and laughter (especially the joy that came from eating ice cream or s’mores around a campfire). “We love you and will miss you.”
Ken is survived by his wife of 38 years, Helen; sons Vince VanderMey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bob Fuchs of Puyallup, Washington, and Bruce Fuchs of Topeka, Kansas; daughters Denise Jagielo of Puyallup and Carissa VanderMey of Albuquerque; grandkids Michelle, Kimberly, Mike, Courtney, Drew, Kyle, Keenan, Nathan, Emme, Luci, Teagan and Moriah; great-grandkids Parker, Kali and Parker Jean; brothers Gordy and Arvin; sisters Helen and Nelda; and numerous other relatives.
Memorials in Ken’s name may be made to Mineral Country Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 454, Creede, CO 81130.
